Saturation recovery-prepared magnetic resonance angiography for assessment of left atrial and esophageal anatomy.

Objectives: Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has been established as an important imaging method in cardiac ablation procedures. In pulmonary vein (PV) isolation procedures, MRA has the potential to minimize the risk of severe complications, such as atrio-esophageal fistula, by providing detailed information on esophageal position relatively to cardiac structures. However, traditional non-gated, first-pass (FP) MRA approaches have several limitations, such as long breath-holds, non-uniform signal intensity throughout the left atrium (LA), and poor esophageal visualization.

Late Gadolinium Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Post-Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Esophageal Thermal Injury Across the Spectrum of Severity.

Background Esophageal thermal injury (ETI) is a byproduct of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using thermal sources. The most severe form of ETI is represented by atrioesophageal fistula, which has a high mortality rate. Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows identification of ETI.

High-intensity endurance training is associated with left atrial fibrosis.

Introduction: Endurance athletes are at higher risk for developing atrial fibrillation as compared to the general population. The exact mechanism to explain this observation is incompletely understood. Our study aimed to determine whether degree of left atrial fibrosis detected by late gadolinium-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) differed between Masters athletes and non-athlete controls.

Magnetic resonance imaging-guided cryoballoon ablation for left atrial substrate modification in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established modality for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We report feasibility of left atrial (LA) substrate modification in addition to PVI both using the cryoballoon.

Methods: LA substrates and CBA-induced scar were assessed at baseline and 3 months after ablation using late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI).

Left atrial functional and structural changes associated with ablation of atrial fibrillation - Cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Introduction: Left atrial (LA) volumes are related to success of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, but the relation to other functional and structural parameters is less well understood. Our goal was to detect potential functional and structural predictors of arrhythmia recurrence after ablation using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRi) and to non-invasively assess the relation between LA functional and structural remodeling pre- and post-ablation.

Methods: A total of 55 patients (38 male, age 67 ± 10 years) underwent CMRi prior to and then within 24-h and 3-months after ablation.

Left atrial fibrosis progression detected by LGE-MRI after ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial (LA) fibrosis is thought to be a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF) and can be quantified by late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI). Fibrosis formation in LA is a dynamic process and may either progress or regress following AF ablation. We examined the impact of postablation progression in LA fibrosis on AF recurrence.

The impact of sex, age and training on biventricular cardiac adaptation in healthy adult and adolescent athletes: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging study.

Aims: Physiological cardiac adaptation in athletes is influenced by multiple factors. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sex, age, body size, sports type and training volume on cardiac adaptation in healthy athletes with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods: A total of 327 athletes (242 male) were studied (adults ≥18 years old; adolescents 14-18 years old).

Atrial fibrosis in non-atrial fibrillation individuals and prediction of atrial fibrillation by use of late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging.

Introduction: Besides the traditional concept of atrial fibrillation (AF) perpetuating atrial structural remodeling, there is increasing evidence that atrial fibrosis might precede AF, highlighting the need for better characterization of the fibrotic substrate. We aimed to assess atrial fibrosis by use of late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) in non-AF individuals and to identify predisposing risk factors. A second aim was to establish a risk score for the prevalence of AF using atrial fibrosis in addition to established clinical variables.

High-Power Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Using Late Gadolinium Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Novel Index of Esophageal Injury.

Objectives: This study retrospectively evaluated the feasibility and esophageal thermal injury (ETI) patterns of high-power short-duration (HPSD) radiofrequency atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Background: ETI following AF ablation can lead to serious complications. Little consensus exists on the optimal radiofrequency power setting or on the optimal strategy to assess ETI.