Cardiovascular Imaging in the Electrophysiology Laboratory.
In recent years, rapid technological advances have allowed the development of new electrophysiological procedures that would not have been possible without the parallel development of imaging techniques used to plan and guide these procedures and monitor their outcomes. Ablation of atrial fibrillation is among the interventions with the greatest need for imaging support. Echocardiography allows the appropriate selection of patients and the detection of thrombi that would contraindicate the intervention; cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are also essential in planning this procedure, by allowing a detailed anatomical study of the pulmonary veins. In addition, in cardiac resynchronization therapy, echocardiography plays a central role in both patient selection and, later, in device adjustment and in assessing the effectiveness of the technique. More recently, ablation of ventricular tachycardias has been established as a treatment option; this would not be possible without planning using an imaging study such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of myocardial scarring.
Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, IDIBAPS-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
Laura
L
Sanchis
Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, IDIBAPS-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain.
Susanna
S
Prat
Instituto Cardiovascular, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, IDIBAPS-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: msitges@clinic.ub.es.
Marta
M
Sitges
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D058406:Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D004452:Echocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006327:Heart Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018579:Patient Selection; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ablación; Ablation; Cardiovascular imaging; Echocardiography; Ecocardiografía; Electrofisiología; Electrophysiology; Imagen cardiovascular