Body surface mapping of counterclockwise and clockwise typical atrial flutter: a comparative analysis with endocardial activation sequence mapping.
OBJECTIVE
This study was directed at developing spatial 62-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) criteria for classification of counterclockwise (CCW) and clockwise (CW) typical atrial flutter (Fl) in patients with and without structural heart disease.


BACKGROUND
Electrocardiographic classification of CCW and CW typical atrial Fl is frequently hampered by inaccurate and inconclusive scalar waveform analysis of the 12-lead ECG.


METHODS
Electrocardiogram signals from 62 torso sites and multisite endocardial recordings were obtained during CCW typical atrial Fl (12 patients), CW typical Fl (3 patients), both forms of typical Fl (4 patients) and CCW typical and atypical atrial Fl (1 patient). All the Fl wave episodes were divided into two or three successive time periods showing stable potential distributions from which integral maps were computed.


RESULTS
The initial, intermediate and terminal CCW Fl wave map patterns coincided with: 1) caudocranial activation of the right atrial septum and proximal-to-distal coronary sinus activation, 2) craniocaudal activation of the right atrial free wall, and 3) activation of the lateral part of the subeustachian isthmus, respectively. The initial, intermediate and terminal CW Fl wave map patterns corresponded with : 1) craniocaudal right atrial septal activation, 2) activation of the subeustachian isthmus and proximal-to-distal coronary sinus activation, and 3) caudocranial right atrial free wall activation, respectively. A reference set of typical CCW and CW mean integral maps of the three successive Fl wave periods was computed after establishing a high degree of quantitative interpatient integral map pattern correspondence irrespective of the presence or absence of organic heart disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The 62-lead ECG of CCW and CW typical atrial Fl in man is characterized by a stereotypical spatial voltage distribution that can be directly related to the underlying activation sequence and is highly specific to the direction of Fl wave rotation. The mean CCW and CW Fl wave integral maps present a unique reference set for improved clinical detection and classification of typical atrial Fl.
SippensGroenewegen
A
A
Department of Medicine and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco 94143-1354, USA. sippens@ep4.ucsf.edu
Lesh
M D
MD
Roithinger
F X
FX
Ellis
W S
WS
Steiner
P R
PR
Saxon
L A
LA
Lee
R J
RJ
Scheinman
M M
MM
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012399:Rotation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors