Detection of the origin of atrial tachycardia by 3D electro‐anatomical mapping and treatment by radiofrequency catheter ablation in horses

Abstract

Background: Atrial tachycardia (AT) can be treated by medical or electrical cardioversion but the recurrence rate is high. Three-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping, recently described in horses, might be used to map AT to identify a focal source or reentry mechanism and to guide treatment by radiofrequency ablation.Objectives: To describe the feasibility of 3D electro-anatomical mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation to characterize and treat sustained AT in horses.Animals: Nine horses with sustained AT.Methods: Records from horses with sustained AT referred for radiofrequency ablation at Ghent University were reviewed. Results:The AT was drug resistant in 4 out of 9 horses. In 8 out of 9 horses, AT originated from a localized macro-reentrant circuit (n = 5) or a focal source (n = 3) located at the transition between the right atrium and the caudal vena cava. In these 8 horses, local radiofrequency catheter ablation resulted in the termination of AT. At followup, 6 out of 8 horses remained free of recurrence.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Differentiation between focal and macroreentrant AT in horses is possible using 3D electro-anatomical mapping. In this study, the source of right atrial AT in horses was safely treated by radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Three‐dimensional electro‐anatomical mapping and radiofrequency ablation as a novel treatment for atrioventricular accessory pathway in a horse: A case report

“…29 , 30 It has a high success rate of almost 100% and a low complication rate. 29 , 30 , 33 , 36 In horses, RFCA has been used successfully for the treatment of atrial tachycardia, 37 but so far not for an AP. The principle of mapping anterograde conducting pathways is to find the earliest ventricular activation site or AP potential.…”

Early recognition with capnography, and successful resuscitation, of severe cardiac dysfunction in a horse receiving amiodarone during transvenous electric cardioversion (TVEC)

“…In human medicine, radiofrequency ablation would have been used to treat the underlying cause of the AF. Although this technology has not yet been fully developed in horses, the treatment of other arrhythmias, such as sustained atrial tachycardia and an accessory pathway, has been reported (Buschmann et al, 2023; Phillips et al, 2022; Van Steenkiste et al, 2022).…”

Implantable loop recorders for detecting arrhythmia in horses: Research tool or diagnostic technique?

“…In this horse, recurrence was initiated by an episode of atrial tachycardia. When atrial tachycardia is confirmed as the underlying trigger for developing AF, treatment by 3D electro‐anatomical mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation could be a successful treatment strategy (Van Steenkiste et al, 2022).…”