This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Babaliaros, V. C. Articles by Block, P. C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Babaliaros, V. C. Articles by Block, P. C.

STATE-OF-THE-ART PAPER

Emerging Applications for Transseptal Left Heart Catheterization

Old Techniques for New Procedures

Andreas Gruentzig Cardiovascular Center, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.

Manuscript received December 7, 2007; revised manuscript received January 15, 2008, accepted January 24, 2008.

^_* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Vasilis Babaliaros, Department of Cardiology, Emory University Hospital, 1364 Clifton Road, Suite F606, Atlanta, Georgia 30322. (Email: Vasilis.babaliaros{at}emoryhealthcare.org).

Transseptal (TS) catheterization was introduced in 1959 as a strategy to directly measure left atrial (LA) pressure. Despite acceptable feasibility and safety, TS catheterization has been replaced by indirect measurements of LA pressure using the Swan-Ganz catheter. Today, TS puncture is rarely performed for diagnostic purposes but continues to be performed for procedures such as balloon mitral valvuloplasty, antegrade balloon aortic valvuloplasty, and ablation of arrhythmias in the LA. Thus, the "art" of TS puncture has been lost, except in centers that perform these procedures with regularity. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the TS technique because of emerging therapeutic procedures for structural heart disease and atrial fibrillation ablation. Invasive cardiologists will have to refamiliarize themselves with the TS technique, newer TS devices, and advanced ultrasound imaging for guidance of the procedure.

Abbreviations and Acronyms   ASD = atrial septal defect   EP = electrophysiology   LA = left atrial/atrium   PFO = patent foramen ovale   PVL = paravalvular leak   RA = right atrium/atrial   RF = radiofrequency   TEE = transesophageal echocardiography   TS = transseptal   TTE = transthoracic echocardiography

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Ross Jr Transseptal left heart catheterization a 50-year odyssey. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., June 3, 2008; 51(22): 2107 - 2115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]