title: Transseptal puncture using minimally invasive echocardiography during atrial fibrillation ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the usefulness of miniature transoesophageal echocardiography using a 10 F intracardiac probe (ICE-TEE) for transseptal catheterization during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intracardiac echocardiography probe was used transoesophageally in 79 consecutive patients (56 ± 11 years, 73% male) referred for AF ablation (60% paroxysmal and 38% persistent) to guide transseptal puncture. Transseptal catheterization monitored by ICE-TEE was well tolerated and successfully performed in all patients without any sedation. No mechanical oesophageal complication was noted. Moreover, the mean duration between ICE-TEE probe insertion and successful transseptal puncture was 4.5 min and the mean time of ICE-TEE was 10 min. Finally, no tamponade occurred during the AF ablation procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intracardiac echocardiography-TEE is safe and well tolerated for the guidance of transseptal catheterization during AF ablation. Moreover, this technique was performed without requiring any anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, APHP, Henri Mondor Hospital, 51 av De Lattre de Tassigny, 94 010 Creteil, France.
authors.forename: Laurens
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mitchell-Heggs
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lellouche
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Deal
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Elbaz
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamdaoui
authors.forename: Jean-Bernard
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Castanié
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dubois-Randé
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guéret
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome