Mode and Characteristics of Arrhythmia Initiation in Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: A THESIS Substudy.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information on the mode of arrhythmia initiation in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF). A non-pause-dependent mechanism has been suggested to be the rule. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the mode and characteristics of initiation of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) in patients with short or long-coupled PVT/IVF included in THESIS (THerapy Efficacy in Short or long-coupled idiopathic ventricular fibrillation: an International Survey), a multicenter study involving 287 IVF patients treated with drugs or radiofrequency ablation. METHODS: We reviewed the initiation of 410 episodes of ≥1 PVT triplet in 180 patients (58.3% females; age 39.6 ± 13.6 years) with IVF. The incidence of pause-dependency arrhythmia initiation (prolongation by >20 ms of the preceding cycle length) was assessed. RESULTS: Most arrhythmias (n = 295; 72%) occurred during baseline supraventricular rhythm without ambient premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), whereas 106 (25.9%) occurred during baseline rhythm including PVCs. Nine (2.2%) arrhythmias occurred during atrial/ventricular pacing and were excluded from further analysis. Mode of PVT initiation was pause-dependent in 45 (15.6%) and 64 (60.4%) of instances in the first and second settings, respectively, for a total of 109 of 401 (27.2%). More than one type of pause-dependent and/or non-pause-dependent initiation (mean: 2.6) occurred in 94.4% of patients with ≥4 events. Coupling intervals of initiating PVCs were <350 ms, 350-500 ms, and >500 ms in 76.6%, 20.72%, and 2.7% of arrhythmia initiations, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pause-dependent initiation occurred in more than a quarter of arrhythmic episodes in IVF patients. PVCs having long (between 350 and 500 ms) and very long (>500 ms) coupling intervals were observed at the initiation of nearly a quarter of PVT episodes.

Anatomical and Electrophysiological Characteristics of Dual-Loop Re-Entry in Atypical Atrial Flutter: Implications for Mapping and Catheter Ablation.

Background: Atypical atrial flutter (AFL) can be challenging to ablate, especially when involving dual-loop re-entry. We sought to assess the electroanatomical characteristics of single- and dual-loop AFLs in patients undergoing catheter ablation. Methods: We analyzed 25 non-cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent macro-re-entrant AFL in 19 consecutive patients. Three-dimensional high-density activation mapping was performed, and active re-entry loops were confirmed by entrainment mapping. Results: Of 25 AFLs (24 left, 1 right atrial), 13 (52%) exhibited dual-loop re-entry. The most common circuits included, in 6/13 (46% of dual loops), a perimitral re-entry with a second loop around the right/left pulmonary veins (PV) and, in 6/13 (46%), involved a right PV ostium with a second loop around either a functional conduction block or another PV. Ablation at the common isthmus of dual-loop AFLs and at the critical isthmus of single-loop AFLs terminated the arrhythmia more frequently than ablation at a secondary isthmus of dual-loop AFLs (5/6 (83%) and 8/11 (73%) versus 1/8 (13%), respectively, p = 0.013). Conclusions: More than half of AFLs exhibited a dual-loop re-entrant mechanism. Most critical isthmuses were found at the mitral isthmus, the left atrial roof or right PV ostia. Ablation targeting the common isthmus resulted in a higher termination rate.

Critical appraisal of technologies to assess electrical activity during atrial fibrillation: a position paper from the European heart rhythm association and European society of cardiology working group on ecardiology in collaboration with the heart rhythm society, Asia pacific heart rhythm society, Latin American Heart rhythm society and computing in cardiology

Abstract We aim to provide a critical appraisal of basic concepts underlying signal recording and processing technologies applied for (I) atrial fibrillation (AF) mapping to unravel AF mechanisms and/or identifying target sites for AF therapy and (ii) AF detection, to optimize usage of technologies, stimulate research aimed at closing knowledge gaps, and developing ideal AF recording and processing technologies. Recording and processing techniques for assessment of electrical activity during AF essential for diagnosis and guiding ablative therapy including body surface electrocardiograms (ECG) and endo- or epicardial electrograms (EGM) are evaluated. Discussion of (I) differences in uni-, bi-, and multi-polar (omnipolar/Laplacian) recording modes, (ii) impact of recording technologies on EGM morphology, (iii) global or local mapping using various types of EGM involving signal processing techniques including isochronal-, voltage- fractionation-, dipole density-, and rotor mapping, enabling derivation of parameters like atrial rate, entropy, conduction velocity/direction, (iv) value of epicardial and optical mapping, (v) AF detection by cardiac implantable electronic devices containing various detection algorithms applicable to stored EGMs, (vi) contribution of machine learning (ML) to further improvement of signals processing technologies. Recording and processing of EGM (or ECG) are the cornerstones of (body surface) mapping of AF. Currently available AF recording and processing technologies are mainly restricted to specific applications or have technological limitations. Improvements in AF mapping by obtaining highest fidelity source signals (e. g. catheter­electrode combinations) for signal processing (e. g. filtering, digitization, and noise elimination) is of utmost importance. Novel acquisition instruments (multi-polar catheters combined with improved physical modelling and ML techniques) will enable enhanced and automated interpretation of EGM recordings in the near future.