title: Role of three-dimensional imaging integration in atrial fibrillation ablation.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and in symptomatic patients with a drug-refractory form, catheter ablation aimed at electrically disconnecting the pulmonary veins (PVs) has proved more effective than use of antiarrhythmic drugs in maintaining sinus rhythm during follow-up. On the other hand, this ablation procedure is complex, requires specific training and adequate clinical experience. A main challenge is represented by the need for accurate sequential positioning of the ablation catheter around each veno-atrial junction to deliver point-by-point radiofrequency energy applications in order to achieve complete and persistent electrical disconnection of the PVs. Imaging integration is a new technology that enables guidance during this procedure by showing a three-dimensional, pre-acquired computed tomography or magnetic resonance image and the relative real-time position of the ablation catheter on the screen of the electroanatomic system. Reports in the literature suggest that imaging integration provides accurate visual information with improvement in the procedure parameters and/or clinical outcomes of the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Roberto De Ponti, Raffaella Marazzi, Giuseppe Picciolo, Roberto Biddau, Jorge A Salerno-Uriarte, Department of Heart, Brain and Vessels, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, University of Insubria, IT-21100 Varese, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto De
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Ponti
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marazzi
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lumia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Picciolo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biddau
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fugazzola
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Salerno-Uriarte