title: Catheter ablation of arrhythmias exclusively using electroanatomic mapping: a series of cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Catheter ablation is a treatment that can cure various cardiac arrhythmias. Fluoroscopy is used to locate and direct catheters to areas that cause arrhythmias. However, fluoroscopy has several risks. Electroanatomic mapping (EAM) facilitates three-dimensional imaging without X-rays, which reduces risks associated with fluoroscopy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe a series of patient cases wherein cardiac arrhythmia ablation was exclusively performed using EAM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who presented with cardiac arrhythmias that were unresponsive to pharmacological therapy were prospectively selected between March 2011 and March 2012 for arrhythmia ablation exclusively through EAM. Patients with indications for a diagnostic electrophysiology study and ablation of atrial fibrillation, left atrial tachyarrhythmias as well as hemodynamically unstable ventricular arrhythmia were excluded. We documented the procedure time, success rate and complications as well as whether fluoroscopy was necessary during the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 11 patients were enrolled in the study, including seven female patients (63%). The mean age of the patients was 50 years (SD ± 16.5). Indications for the investigated procedures included four cases (35%) of atrial flutter, three cases (27%) of pre-excitation syndrome, two cases (19%) of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and two cases (19%) of ventricular extrasystoles. The mean procedure duration was 86.6 min (SD ± 26 min). Immediate success (at discharge) of the procedure was evident for nine patients (81%). There were no complications during the procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the feasibility of performing an arrhythmia ablation exclusively using EAM with satisfactory results.
authors.forename: Leonardo Martins
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Tiago Luiz Luz
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Leiria
authors.forename: Marcelo Lapa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kruse
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ronsoni
authors.forename: Caroline Saltz
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Gensas
authors.forename: Gustavo Glotz de
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery*; D018780:Body Surface Potential Mapping / Q000379:methods; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome