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Electrogram characteristics of the coronary sinus in cases requiring epicardial ablation within the coronary sinus for creating a conduction block at the left lateral mitral isthmus

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Abstract

Background

Left lateral mitral isthmus (LLMI) linear ablation is a safe and effective technique for treating left mitral flutter. LLMI linear ablation with pulmonary vein isolation may reduce the recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation. However, epicardial ablation within the coronary sinus (CS) is often required to create the LLMI block line. If the necessity for epicardial ablation is checked before ablation, complications may be reduced.

Methods

We recruited 135 patients who underwent their first LLMI ablation and divided them into two groups, one group not requiring epicardial ablation for creating a conduction block at the LLMI (Endo group) and another requiring it (Epi group). These two groups were compared in terms of the electrogram characteristics of the CS.

Results

Bidirectional block through the LLMI was achieved in 94.8% of patients. In 42% of these patients, not only the endocardium but also the epicardium was ablated. As for the electrogram, the Endo group had lower atrium voltage and atrioventricular voltage ratios (p = 0.009) than the Epi group before LLMI ablation. By contrast, there were no significant differences in the atrium voltage and the atrioventricular voltage ratio between these two groups after LLMI ablation.

Conclusions

For creating a conduction block at the LLMI, the atrium voltage and the atrioventricular voltage ratio in the CS before ablation are important. The atrioventricular voltage ratio is a crucial criterion for determining whether epicardial ablation is necessary; furthermore, the atrioventricular voltage ratio in the CS must be reduced with or without epicardial ablation.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. Ryo Koami, Ms. Kazumi Uchimoto, and Dr. Hsiao-Yun Chang for the assistance with this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arrhythmia Care Center, Koseikai Takeda Hospital, Kyoto City, Japan

    Daisuke Sato, Hiroki Kitajima, Yuji Nishikawa, Seno Keitaro & Yeong-Hwa Chun

  2. Division of Arrhythmia, Rakuwakai Otowa Hospital, Kyoto City, Japan

    Hiroki Mani

  3. Department of Cardiology, Tokyo bay Urayasu Ichikawa Medical Center, Urayasu City, Japan

    Yu Makihara

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  1. Daisuke Sato
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Correspondence to Daisuke Sato.

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Sato, D., Mani, H., Makihara, Y. et al. Electrogram characteristics of the coronary sinus in cases requiring epicardial ablation within the coronary sinus for creating a conduction block at the left lateral mitral isthmus. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 53, 53–61 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-018-0403-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-018-0403-6

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