Use of double-potential barrier to identify functional isthmus at the cavotricuspid isthmus for facilitating catheter ablation of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to identify an alternative target for more effective radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFL).


RESULTS
We hypothesized that a functional isthmus formed by preexisting double potential barrier at the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) could serve as a new target site for facilitating RFCA of AFL. Forty-three consecutive patients with recurrent isthmus-dependent AFL were studied using three-dimensional navigated magnetic mapping and ablation technique. Twenty patients (47%, group A) were shown to have a narrower functional channel at the CTI (functional isthmus). The remaining 23 patients did not have this feature (53%, group B). In group A, double potentials were clustered near the border of the inferior vena cava (IVC) of the CTI and served as a functional channel along the tricuspid annulus (TA). The interspike interval of double potentials was 87 +/- 26 ms near the IVC border and 45 +/- 17 ms (P < 0.0001) near the TA border of CTI. RFCA targeting at the functional isthmus in group A resulted in interruption of bidirectional transisthmus conduction with fewer radiofrequency pulses (6.7 +/- 4.7 in group A vs 21.1 +/- 17.1 pulses in group B, P < 0.001), shorter ablation line (11.6 +/- 4.0 mm vs 37.8 +/- 7.2 mm, P < 0.0001) with no arrhythmia recurrence. These functional isthmuses were found to be located at the lateral third of CTI in 12 patients, middle third in 7, and medial third in 1. This finding is different from that obtained by the conventional method in group B (lateral in 5, middle in 16, medial in 2, P < 0.038).


CONCLUSIONS
In our study, a functional, rather than anatomic, isthmus formed by preexisting double-potential barrier at the CTI was identified in 47% of patients with isthmus-dependent AFL. It is a useful guide to facilitate RFCA of isthmus-dependent AFL.
Lai
Ling-Ping
LP
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chun-Shan S. Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Lin
Jiunn-Lee
JL
Lin
Jih-Min
JM
Du
Chao-Cheng
CC
Tseng
Yung-Zu
YZ
Huang
Shoei K Stephen
SK
D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000503:physiopathology*