Utility of a new imaging system for displaying complex anatomy during AF ablation with cryoenergy

Abstract

Background

A new catheter-based 3D dielectric imaging modality to guide electrophysiology ablation procedures that does not require contact or X-ray to image and offers new benefits for cryoablation procedures.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old male with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was admitted to our hospital for atrial fibrillation ablation that was performed using cryoballoon fourth generation combined with a novel wide-band dielectric imaging system [KODEX-EPD (EPD Solutions, a Philips company)].

Conclusions

This system allowed to visualize left common pulmonary vein before balloon positioning and then confirmed by pulmonary vein angiography.

Background

Standard pulmonary vein (PV) anatomy (two left-sided and two right-sided PVs with separated ostia) is present in 70% of cases. In 30% patients, abnormal anatomy [left common pulmonary vein (LCPV) or accessory PV] is recorded. Patients with LCPV have significantly reduced AF-free survival after ablation with cryoballoon, despite similar acutely successful PV isolations (PVIs) [1]. Anatomic map of the left atrium using KODEX-EPD (EPD Solutions, a Philips company) [2,3,4] shows the potential to visualize abnormal PV anatomy and guide correct PV ostium occlusion.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old Caucasian male with hypertension was admitted to our hospital for ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs.

After a single trans-septal puncture, the left atrium (LA) imaging was performed using a decapolar circular mapping catheter (Achieve Advance 25, Medtronic) and KODEX-EPD (EPD Solutions, a Philips company) system. During LA reconstruction, a LCPV was rapidly identified (Fig. 1). Achieve was placed within the LCPV, the cryoballoon (Arctic Front Advance Pro, 28 mm diameter, Medtronic) was inflated, and baseline occlusion tool software data were collected. Then, cryoballoon was positioned, occlusion was verified by occlusion tool software tool [KODEX-EPD (EPD Solutions, a Philips company)], and PV angiography was performed showing the complete occlusion of LCPV (Fig. 2). Cryoenergy was delivered reaching the following parameters: time to isolation was 26 s, and max temperature was − 53 °C with a freeze-cycle duration of 180 s. Achieve was positioned into every single branch of LCPV to check the complete electrical isolation. As previously described [5], a single cryoenergy delivery was useful for complete isolation of a long and tight LCPV (Fig. 3). Similarly, right superior PV (RSPV) and right inferior PV (RIPV) were isolated using occlusion tool software tool information.

Fig. 1

Left atrium anatomy

Fig. 2

PV angiography

Fig. 3

Cryoballoon positioning scheme

Discussion and conclusions

The imaging system integrated to cryotechnology allows to visualize abnormal anatomies (Fig. 4) before angiography, avoiding the search for a separate ostium, and, thanks to the Occlusion Tool software, allows to position the cryoballoon correctly by reducing the amounts of time rays exposure and contrast.

Fig. 4

Left atrium anatomy in PANO view mode