The combination of electroanatomic mapping and minielectrodes in a series of cases of redo procedures

Abstract

BackgroundIn patients with supraventricular tachycardia, catheter ablation is an important treatment option. However, approximately one quarter of these patients remain symptomatic, so sustainable strategies for the treatment of those patients who do not benefit from the first catheter ablation are required.MethodsIn a series of redo procedures, we investigated the combined use of an electro-anatomic mapping system and an ablation catheter with mini-electrodes.ResultsCatheter ablation was successful in two patients with recurrent common type atrial flutter and one patient with recurrent ectopic atrial tachycardia. In a patient with recurrent perimitral flutter, the ablation procedure had to be stopped early, due to pericardial effusion.ConclusionThe combination of electro-anatomic mapping and mini-electrodes might be useful, especially in the treatment of ectopic atrial tachycardias, but also in redo procedures of CTI ablations, that require not only the visualization of the tachycardia, but also the detection of a local focus or a local gap. For an optimal use of the ME ablation catheter, the generator settings should be evaluated in further studies.

The advantage of the mini‐electrode‐equipped catheter for the radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia

“…This catheter may not be suitable to map the entire arrhythmia circuit in detail, but it can help to accurately localize the catheter tip and to assess ablated and viable tissue. Previous clinical studies showed that the ablation catheter equipped with ME was effective in the visualization of local gaps and avoiding unnecessary ablation during RFA of CTI and ATs 4,5,12 . However, Iwasawa et al reported that the ME catheter showed worse efficacy compared to the conventional ablation catheters for CTI ablation in a prospective clinical study.…”