title: Thoracic vein arrhythmias.
abstract: The thoracic veins are important foci for the genesis of ectopic atrial tachycardia and play a critical role in the pathophysiology of paroxysmal and permanent atrial fibrillation. The pulmonary veins have the highest arrhythmogenic activity and other venous structures (eg, superior vena cava, coronary sinus and ligament of Marshall) have also been shown arrhythmogenic potential. Thoracic veins contain cardiomyocytes with distinct electrical activities and complex anatomical structures. This review summaries the current understanding of the basic and clinical electrophysiology of thoracic vein arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Taipei Medical University-Wan-Fang Hospital and School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shih-Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D001683:Biological Clocks; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D054326:Coronary Sinus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery