Use of a low profile ultrasound transducer for coronary sinus cannulation: a pilot study.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy with biventricular pacing has been shown to be beneficial in improving heart failure in patients with prolonged QRS duration (≥120 ms) and low ejection fraction (≤35%). Unsuccessful cannulation of the coronary sinus (CS) has been reported in up to 10% of cases. The feasibility of the transthoracic continuous cardiac imaging for coronary sinus cannulation has not been previously demonstrated.

Clinical outcomes of catheter substrate ablation for high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term clinical outcomes of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) substrate for high-risk patients with AF.

Background: The benefits of catheter ablation for high-risk AF patients with respect to mortality and stroke reductions remain unclear.

Methods: We performed AF substrate ablation guided by complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) mapping in 674 high-risk AF patients.

A new approach for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: mapping of the electrophysiologic substrate.

Objectives: We sought to test the hypothesis that complex fractionated electrograms (CFAEs) recorded during atrial fibrillation (AF) could be used as target sites for catheter ablation of AF.

Background: Mapping of AF in humans has shown that areas of CFAEs correlate with areas of slowed conduction and pivot points of reentrant wavelets. We hypothesized that such areas of CFAEs could be identified in patients with AF and might serve as target sites for catheter ablation to maintain sinus rhythm.