Bidirectional superior vena cava: right atrial conduction delay during tachycardia.

The superior vena cava, like all the thoracic veins, has myocardial sleeves and plays a role in initiation and perpetuation of atrial fibrillation. Conduction delay between it and the right atrium has been shown previously. This case study shows delay in both directions during different arrhythmias in the same patient.

Use of advanced mapping and remote magnetic navigation to ablate left ventricular fascicular tachycardia.

Ablation of idiopathic left ventricular, or fascicular tachycardia can be aided by electroanatomical mapping. The addition of a floppy, magnetically enabled ablation catheter may improve maneuvering as well as decrease mechanically induced arrhythmias and mechanical block. We describe a case of fascicular tachycardia in which both these modalities were used in a sequential fashion.

Targets and endpoints in ablation therapy for atrial fibrillation in the light of pathophysiological mechanisms.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), an important public health problem is a complex and multifactorial arrhythmia. Non-pharmacological treatment for symptomatic patients is of increasing importance. The different catheter ablation techniques in AF treatment developed during recent years, all based on different pathophysiological insights, are discussed.

Left ventricular lead placement within a coronary sinus side branch using remote magnetic navigation of a guidewire: a feasibility study.

Background: A novel magnetic navigation system (MNS) allowing remote guidance of catheters and guidewires might assist in implantation of left ventricular (LV) pacing leads.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of deploying a LV pacing lead into a coronary sinus (CS) side branch using a magnetically guided wire and of performing the procedure without a CS guiding sheath.

Methods: Twenty-one patients were included in this study.