Background Treatment of perimitral flutter (PMF) requires bidirectional mitral isthmus (MI) block, which can be difficult with radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The vein of Marshall (VOM) is located within the MI. Objective To test whether VOM ethanol infusion could help achieve MI block. Methods Perimitral conduction was studied in patients undergoing ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Group 1 included 50 patients with a previous AF ablation undergoing repeat ablation, 30 of which had had MI ablation. Spontaneous (8/50) or inducible PMF (21/50) was confirmed by activation mapping. Group 2 included 21 patients undergoing de novo VOM ethanol infusion. The VOM was cannulated with a quadripolar catheter for pacing and with an angioplasty balloon to deliver up to four 1mL infusions of 98% ethanol. Voltage maps were created before and after VOM ethanol. Bidirectional MI block was verified by differential pacing. RFA times required to achieve it were assessed. Results In Group 1, VOM ethanol infusion acutely terminated PMF in 5/29 patients. RFA needed to achieve bidirectional MI block was 2.2±1.6 min. Presence of PMF or previous MI ablation did not affect RFA times. In Group 2, RFA needed to achieve bidirectional MI block was 2.0±1.6 min (p=NS). Five patients had bidirectional MI block achieved solely by VOM ethanol without RFA. In both groups, ablation after VOM ethanol was required in the annular aspect of the MI. There were no acute complications. Conclusion VOM ethanol infusion is useful in the treatment of PMF and assists in reliably achieving bidirectional MI block.

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Mean 101 71-30 410 196-52 .249 .364 + 46 88 94 P value < 0.02 0.01 0.01 GFR-Glomerular filtration rate. RPF-Renal plasma flow. FF-Filtration fraction. Mean BP-Mean blood pressure. RT-Rectal temperature during hypothermic studies. * Patient did not receive high spinal block. Probability greater than 0.10.