Characterization of persistent atrial fibrillation with non-contact charge density mapping and relationship to voltage.

Background: Despite studies using localized high density contact mapping and lower resolution panoramic approaches, the mechanisms that sustain human persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unresolved. Voltage mapping is commonly employed as a surrogate of atrial substrate to guide ablation procedures.

Objective: To study the distribution and temporal stability of activation during persistent AF using a global non-contact charge density approach and compare the findings with bipolar contact mapping.