title: Use of an angioplasty wire to perforate the interatrial septum for a difficult transseptal puncture.
abstract: With the expansion in catheter-based treatments for atrial fibrillation the number of transseptal punctures being performed by cardiac electrophysiologists has increased significantly. Although in general transseptal puncture is successful, in a small percentage of cases it cannot be achieved due to complex intraatrial anatomy. We report the case of a difficult transseptal puncture (TSP), performed where the conventional approach using a Brockenbrough needle sheath was unable to perforate the septum. TSP was only achieved using a novel technique assisted by an angioplasty wire.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, The Heart Hospital, 16-18 Westmoreland Street, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Syed Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Pier D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lambiase
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: McCready
authors.forename: Anthony W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chow
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D054087:Atrial Septum / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011677:Punctures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome