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CLINICAL STUDY: ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

Electrogram polarity reversal as an additional indicator of breakthroughs from the left atrium to the pulmonary veins

^* Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, Bordeaux-Pessac, France

Manuscript received July 31, 2001; revised manuscript received January 7, 2002, accepted January 18, 2002.

^* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Teiichi Yamane, Hôpital Cardiologique du Haut-Lévêque, Avenue de Magellan, 33604 Bordeaux-Pessac, France.
jacques.clementy{at}pu.u-bordeaux2.fr

OBJECTIVES: We assessed the anatomical distribution and electrogram characteristics of breakthrough from the left atrium (LA) to the pulmonary veins (PVs).

BACKGROUND: Localization of LA-PV breakthrough is an important technique for PV ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODS: A total of 157 patients with paroxysmal AF underwent PV disconnection guided by mapping with a circumferential 10-electrode catheter. Radiofrequency (RF) current was delivered ostially at the site(s) of earliest activation (113 patients) or electrogram polarity reversal defined by opposite polarity across adjacent bipoles (44 patients). Breakthrough sites were proved by changes in pulmonary vein potential activation sequence occurring as a result of localized RF delivery and were classified into four segments around the ostium (top, bottom, anterior, posterior). Results of mapping and ablation were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS: A total of 99% of 411 targeted PVs were successfully disconnected in both groups. Breakthroughs were most frequent at the bottom of superior PVs (85% prevalence) and the top of inferior PVs (75% prevalence). A wide activation front (>5 synchronous bipoles) indicating broad breakthrough was observed in 18% of PVs. Polarity reversal occurred with 88% sensitivity and 91% specificity at breakthrough sites. Polarity reversal was restricted to fewer bipoles (2.0 ± 0.4 bipoles vs. 3.4 ± 2.0 bipoles, p < 0.01) compared with earliest activation. Shorter RF application time was required to disconnect PVs with wide synchronous activation using polarity reversal compared with using conventional earliest activity (10.3 ± 3.0 min vs. 12.3 ± 3.4 min, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar electrogram polarity reversal allows more precise localization of breakthrough compared with the earliest activation, particularly in cases of wide synchronous PV activation.

Abbreviations and Acronyms   AF   atrial fibrillation   LA   left atrium   LIPV   left inferior pulmonary vein   LSPV   left superior pulmonary vein   PV   pulmonary vein   PVP   pulmonary vein potential   RF   radiofrequency   RIPV   right inferior pulmonary vein   RSPV   right superior pulmonary vein

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