title: Fossa ovalis radiofrequency perforation in a difficult case of conventional transseptal puncture for atrial fibrillation ablation.
abstract: A 65-year-old man was referred for atrial fibrillation ablation to our center. Routine pre-procedure transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography examinations showed a normal interatrial septum and fossa ovalis anatomy. Access to left atrium was initially planned using a conventional transseptal needle puncture. During the procedure, several consecutive attempts in conjunction with intracardiac echocardiography support, failed to cross the septum. The procedure was then successfully carried out using a specifically designed radiofrequency transseptal catheter.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go Gemelli, 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. michelacasella@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dello Russo
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelargonio
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Paulis
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zecchi
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellocci
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tondo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D006346:Heart Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional