title: Comparison of Left Atrial Bipolar Voltage and Scar Using Multielectrode Fast Automated Mapping versus Point-by-Point Contact Electroanatomic Mapping in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Repeat Ablation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bipolar voltage criteria to delineate left atrial (LA) scar have been derived using point-by-point (PBP) contact electroanatomical mapping. It remains unclear how PBP-derived LA scar correlates with multielectrode fast automated mapping (ME-FAM) derived scar. We aimed to correlate scar and bipolar voltages from LA maps created using PBP versus ME-FAM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In consecutive patients undergoing repeat AF ablation, 2 separate LA maps were created using PBP and ME-FAM during sinus rhythm before ablation. Contiguous areas in the LA with a bipolar voltage cutoff of ≤0.2 mV represented dense scar; LA scar percentage was calculated for each map. Each LA shell was divided into 9 regions and each region further subdivided into 4 quadrants for additional analysis; mean voltages of all points obtained using PBP versus ME-FAM in each region were compared. Forty maps (20 PBP: mean 228.5 ± 95.6 points; 20 ME-FAM: 923.0 ± 382.6 points) were created in 20 patients. Mapping time with ME-FAM was shorter compared with PBP (13.3 ± 5.3 vs. 34.4 ± 13.1 minutes; P < 0.001). Mean LA scar percentage was higher with PBP compared with ME-FAM (15.5 ± 17.1% vs. 12.8 ± 17.6%; P = 0.04). Mean PBP voltage distribution was lower (compared with ME-FAM) in the septum (0.95 ± 0.73 vs. 1.46 ± 0.99 mV; P = 0.009), posterior wall (0.84 ± 0.42 vs. 1.40 ± 0.83 mV; P = 0.0008), roof (0.78 ± 0.80 vs. 1.39 ± 1.09 mV; P = 0.0003), and right PV-LA junction (0.34 ± 0.25 vs. 0.59 ± 0.50 mV; P = 0.01) regions, while voltages were similar in all other LA regions (all P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In AF patients undergoing repeat ablation, bipolar voltage is greater in certain LA segments with ME-FAM compared with PBP mapping.
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Jackson J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Elafros
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Muser
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Rajeev K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santangeli
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Supple
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.affiliation: Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dixit
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001331:Automation; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation
keywords: atrial fibrillation; catheter ablation; left atrial scar; mapping; scar mapping; voltage