ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: No prior studies have clarified the utility and efficacy of unipolar recording for identifying successful sites for atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six patients underwent radiofrequency (RF) AVJ ablation for drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) or AF/flutter. AVJ ablation was performed with either bipolar (Bi-group; n=18) or unipolar plus bipolar recording (Uni-group; n=18). In the Uni-group, the primary parameter used to select ablation sites was a QS or rS morphology of the His bundle unipolar recording. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups for the bipolar electrogram characteristics at the successful ablation site. However, in the Uni-group, the procedure time and fluoroscopy duration were shorter (both p<0.05), and the total number of RF energy applications less (p<0.05) than in the Bi-group. In the Uni-group, unipolar His bundle recordings could be assessed in 26 (76%) of 34 RF energy applications: Complete atrioventricular block was obtained at 15 (83%) of 18 sites with QS morphology and in 3 (37%) of 8 sites with rS morphology on the unipolar His bundle recording. CONCLUSIONS: AVJ ablation can be achieved more efficiently and with fewer RF energy applications when guided by unipolar recordings than by bipolar recordings alone.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation/physiopathology , Atrial Fibrillation/therapy , Atrial Flutter/physiopathology , Atrial Flutter/therapy , Catheter Ablation , Electrocardiography , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Atrioventricular Block/physiopathology , Atrioventricular Block/therapy , Bundle of His/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pacemaker, ArtificialABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardias (VTs) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) arising from the tricuspid annulus have been reported. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of VT/PVCs originating from the tricuspid annulus. METHODS: The ECG characteristics and results of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation were analyzed in 454 patients with idiopathic VT/PVCs. RESULTS: Thirty-eight (8%) patients had VT/PVCs arising from the tricuspid annulus: 28 VT/PVCs (74%) originated from the septal portion of the tricuspid annulus and the remaining 10 (26%) from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus. QRS duration and Q-wave amplitude in each of leads V1-V3 were greater in VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus than those from the septum of the tricuspid annulus (all P < .01). "Notching" of the QRS complex was observed more often in VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus than those from the septum of the tricuspid annulus (P < .01). A Q wave in lead V1 was observed more often in VT/PVCs arising from the septum of the tricuspid annulus than those from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus (P < .005). R-wave transition occurred beyond lead V3 more often in VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus than those from the septum of the tricuspid annulus (P < .005). RF catheter ablation eliminated 90% of the VT/PVCs arising from the free wall of the tricuspid annulus but only 57% of the VT/PVCs arising from septum of the tricuspid annulus. CONCLUSION: Idiopathic VT/PVCs arising from tricuspid annulus are not rare, and the detailed origin can be determined by ECG analysis. The preferential site of origin was the septum but also could be the free wall of the tricuspid annulus.
Subject(s)
Catheter Ablation , Electrocardiography , Tachycardia, Ventricular/etiology , Tricuspid Valve/pathology , Ventricular Premature Complexes/etiology , Cardiac Catheterization , Cardiac Pacing, Artificial , Case-Control Studies , Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac , Female , Heart Conduction System/pathology , Heart Conduction System/surgery , Heart Septum/pathology , Heart Septum/surgery , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Tachycardia, Ventricular/epidemiology , Tachycardia, Ventricular/surgery , Ventricular Premature Complexes/epidemiology , Ventricular Premature Complexes/surgeryABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: We sought to clarify the prevalence and characteristics of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia or premature ventricular contraction originating from the mitral annulus (MAVT/PVC). BACKGROUND: Recent case reports have presented patients with MAVT/PVC. METHODS: Electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics and the results of electrophysiologic investigation and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were analyzed in 352 patients with symptomatic idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (IVT)/premature ventricular contraction (PVC). RESULTS: Nineteen cases of IVT/PVC (5%) represented MAVT/PVC. Of these, 11 (58%) originated from the anterolateral portion of the mitral annulus (AL-MAVT/PVC), and 2 (11%) arose from the posterior portion (Pos-MAVT/PVC). The remaining six cases of MAVT/PVC (31%) had posteroseptal origin (PS-MAVT/PVC). In all patients, an S-wave was present in lead V(6). The QRS polarity in inferior leads and leads I and aVL was useful for differentiating AL-MAVT/PVC from Pos-MAVT/PVC or PS-MAVT/PVC. The Pos-MAVT/PVC had an Rs pattern in lead I and an R pattern in lead V(1), whereas PS-MAVT/PVC invariably had an R pattern in lead I and a negative QRS component in lead V(1). The AL-MAVT/PVC and Pos-MAVT/PVC showed a longer QRS duration than the PS-MAVT/PVC (p < 0.001), and all had late-phase "notching" of the QRS complex in inferior leads. In all patients, RFCA eliminated MAVT/PVC, with no recurrences during follow-up for 21 +/- 15 months. CONCLUSIONS: Mitral annular VT/PVC is a rare but distinct subgroup of IVT/PVC. MAVT/PVC origin could be determined by ECG analysis. The AL and PS sites of the MA were preferential.
