<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia. Despite significant advances in its treatment, it still remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In the last two decades, pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was developed as the most effective treatment option. The reported effectiveness of a single ablation procedure ranges from 40% to 69% with single, and up to 88% with repeated procedures, with acceptable safety profile. The PubMed database was searched, using terms including ‘atrial fibrillation ablation’, ‘pulmonary vein isolation’, ‘computed tomography’, ‘pulmonary vein anatomy’ and ‘ovality index’. Papers were reviewed for relevance and scientific merit. Different imaging techniques are used for pre-procedural assessment of left atrial (LA) anatomy, of which computed tomography (CT) is the most common. It allows assessing pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy, the LA wall thickness in different regions and the left atrial appendage (LAA) anatomy, together with excluding the presence of intracardiac thrombi. Pre-procedural PVs imaging is important regardless of the selected ablation technique, however, cryoballoon (CB) ablation seems to be particularly anatomy-dependent. Additionally, CT also permits assessment of several PVs characteristics (geometry, dimensions, angulations, the ostium area, orientation and ovality index (OI), which are essential for the patients’ qualification and designing the strategy of AF ablation. In this paper, we have reviewed the role of CT imaging in patients undergoing ablation procedure due to recurrent/symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Moreover, we discussed the relevant literature.</p>
</abstract>

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia. Despite significant advances in its treatment, it still remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In the last two decades, pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was developed as the most effective treatment option. The reported effectiveness of a single ablation procedure ranges from 40% to 69% with single, and up to 88% with repeated procedures, with acceptable safety profile. The PubMed database was searched, using terms including ‘atrial fibrillation ablation’, ‘pulmonary vein isolation’, ‘computed tomography’, ‘pulmonary vein anatomy’ and ‘ovality index’. Papers were reviewed for relevance and scientific merit. Different imaging techniques are used for pre-procedural assessment of left atrial (LA) anatomy, of which computed tomography (CT) is the most common. It allows assessing pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy, the LA wall thickness in different regions and the left atrial appendage (LAA) anatomy, together with excluding the presence of intracardiac thrombi. Pre-procedural PVs imaging is important regardless of the selected ablation technique, however, cryoballoon (CB) ablation seems to be particularly anatomy-dependent. Additionally, CT also permits assessment of several PVs characteristics (geometry, dimensions, angulations, the ostium area, orientation and ovality index (OI), which are essential for the patients’ qualification and designing the strategy of AF ablation. In this paper, we have reviewed the role of CT imaging in patients undergoing ablation procedure due to recurrent/symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Moreover, we discussed the relevant literature.

Atrial fibrillation ablation: the position of computed tomography in pre-procedural imaging

Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia. Despite significant advances in its treatment, it still remains one of the leading...

Atrial fibrillation ablation: the position of computed tomography in pre-procedural imaging

Publicado en línea: 27 oct 2022

Páginas: 116 - 122

Recibido: 15 may 2022

Aceptado: 04 ago 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2022-0022

Palabras clave
atrial fibrillation ablation, pulmonary veins isolation, computed tomography, ovality index

© 2022 Milena Stachyra et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Atrial fibrillation ablation: the position of computed tomography in pre-procedural imaging

Publicado en línea: 27 oct 2022

Páginas: 116 - 122

Recibido: 15 may 2022

Aceptado: 04 ago 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cipms-2022-0022

Palabras claveatrial fibrillation ablation, pulmonary veins isolation, computed tomography, ovality index

© 2022 Milena Stachyra et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
atrial fibrillation ablation, pulmonary veins isolation, computed tomography, ovality index