Peri-mitral atrial flutter: personalized ablation strategy based on arrhythmogenic substrate.
The aim of this study is to characterize the arrhythmogenic substrate for peri-mitral atrial flutter (PMAFL), thereby determining a personalized ablation strategy to treat PMAFL.



Thirty-six consecutive PMAFL patients (mean age: 63.8 ± 11.3, 23 males) underwent detailed three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping in left atrium (LA). The LA was divided into septal-anterior wall (SAW), posterior inferior wall (PIW), and mitral isthmus (MI) region, respectively. Ablation strategy was determined based on the endocardial bipolar voltage map. Based on electrophysiological substrates, 10, 17, and 9 cases were classified into iatrogenic, spontaneous, and no-substrate PMAFL, respectively. The mean voltage in SAW was significantly lower in spontaneous PMAFL (iatrogenic: 1.07 ± 0.66 mV; spontaneous: 0.65 ± 0.44 mV; no-substrate: 1.60 ± 0.53 mV, P <0.001), while iatrogenic PMAFL patients had the lowest voltage in MI (0.51 ± 0.23 mV vs. 1.55 ± 0.78 mV, 1.61 ± 0.56 mV, P <0.001). No low-voltage or slow conduction zone was found in the no-substrate PMAFL group. Fifteen spontaneous PMAFLs were successfully terminated by modified septal-anterior (9/10) or conventional anterior ablation line (6/7). Eight iatrogenic PMAFLs (8/10) were terminated by reinforcing the previous ablation areas. Cardioversion without PMAFL ablation was done in no-substrate PMAFL patients. After a median follow-up of 12 (7-39) months, two spontaneous PMAFL patients received redo procedures for recurrence due to "gap" conduction.



The ablation strategy for PMAFL patients should be based on the arrhythmogenic substrate, but not the indiscriminate MI ablation. No-substrate PMAFLs during AF ablation could be monitored after cardioversion and might not need further ablation.
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Jinbo
J
Yu
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Kai
K
Chen
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Bing
B
Yang
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Fengxiang
F
Zhang
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Weizhu
W
Ju
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Hongwu
H
Chen
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Gang
G
Yang
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Mingfang
M
Li
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Benqi
B
Wang
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Kai
K
Gu
Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Lohmühlenstraße 5, 20099, Hamburg, Germany.
Feifan
F
Ouyang
Cardiac Morphology Unit, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK.
Siew Yen
SY
Ho
Section of Cardiovascular Diseases and Heart Rhythm Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1200 Everett Drive, TCH 6E103, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
Sunny
S
Po
Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, China.
Minglong
M
Chen
D000368:Aged; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D054087:Atrial Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000379:methods*; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome