(Circulation. 2000;101:2178.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Clinical Investigation and Reports |
Right Atrial Angiographic Evaluation of the Posterior Isthmus
Relevance for Ablation of Typical Atrial Flutter
Presented in part at the 20th Congress of the European Society of Cardiology, Vienna, Austria, August 1998.
From the Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, University of Leuven (Belgium).
Correspondence to Hein Heidbüchel, MD, PhD, Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. E-mail Hein.Heidbuchel{at}uz.kuleuven.ac.be
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Abstract |
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Background—Gaining anatomic information about the posterior isthmus is not generally part of flutter ablation procedures. We postulated that right atrial (RA) angiography could rationalize the ablation approach by revealing the conformation of the isthmus.
Methods and Results—In 100 consecutive patients, biplane RA
angiography was performed before ablation to guide catheter contact
with the isthmus along its length. Angiography showed a wide variation
in the width of the isthmus (17 to 54 mm; 31.3±7.9), its angle
with the inferior vena cava in the right anterior oblique
projection (68° to 114°; 90.3±9.0°), and its lateral
position relative to the inferior vena cava in the left
anterior oblique projection. A deep sub-Eustachian recess was
revealed in 47%, with a mean depth of 4.3±2.1 mm (1.5 to 9.4). A
Eustachian valve was visualized in 24%. Ablation resulted in
bidirectional conduction block (which could be transient) in all, with
a median of 2 dragging radiofrequency (RF) applications (2.3±2.5 RF
applications; 57°C, 
99 seconds each). Permanent block was achieved
in 99%, with a median of 3 RF applications (3.4±3.0). The presence of
a Eustachian valve or concave isthmus was associated with statistically
more RF applications; the same trend was seen for patients with deep
pouches. The number of RF applications decreased statistically
throughout the study, indicating a learning curve. No patient had a
recurrence after a follow-up of 13±11 months.
Conclusions—Right atrial angiography reveals a highly variable isthmus anatomy, often showing particular configurations that can make ablation more laborious. Rational adaptation of the ablation approach to these anatomic findings may contribute to successful ablation.
Key Words: atrial flutter • catheter ablation • angiography • structure
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Introduction |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Flutter ablation usually targets the region between the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the tricuspid annulus (TA) (posterior isthmus).1 2 3 4 Current procedures are based on electrical confirmation that the targeted isthmus is part of the flutter circuit (eg, by entrainment pacing) and verify the creation of bidirectional isthmus block by pacing in the proximal coronary sinus (CS) or the posterolateral right atrium.2 5 Although these techniques have led to a better understanding of the arrhythmia circuit and of the end point needed for a successful ablation outcome, information about the anatomic characteristics of the isthmus remains scarce. Anatomic reports in autopsied hearts have shown that its structure can be highly variable.5 6 7 8 However, gaining information about isthmus width, its morphology, and its delineation at the caval aspect by the Eustachian valve generally is not part of the ablation procedure.
Revealing the anatomic structures in patients could be accomplished by techniques such as transthoracic, transesophageal or intracardiac echocardiography, MRI imaging, or electroanatomic mapping.9 10 However, these can be time consuming and/or cannot always be applied at the time of ablation itself. Moreover, special equipment is required. Right atrial angiography is a widely available and inexpensive alternative.11 We postulated that visualizing the anatomic conformation of the isthmus could rationalize the ablation approach.
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Methods |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Patients
We report on 100 consecutive patients (81 men) referred for ablation of counterclockwise (99) and/or clockwise (9) atrial flutter (November 1995 to June 1999). Mean age was 55±13 years (range 13 to 77 years). Fifty patients had no manifest structural heart disease.
Electrophysiological Study and
Ablation
The procedures were performed under propofol
anesthesia (with mechanical ventilation). Mapping
(including use of a 20-polar halo catheter) and entrainment pacing
confirmed the participation of the isthmus in the arrhythmia
circuit. Bidirectional block was verified by pacing from the proximal
CS and posterolateral right atrium (RA) while mapping the atrial
activation sequence and double potentials along the entire ablation
line.
Radiofrequency (RF) energy was delivered with the use of thermistor
ablation catheters with 6- or 8-mm tips (target 57°C; 50 W). If
required by the anatomic configuration, sometimes a 4-mm-tip catheter
with appropriate curve was introduced later during the procedure. An
SR-0 and/or SAFL sheath (Daig Corp) was used to support the ablation
catheter in 8 and 9 patients, respectively. In 86%, current was
delivered during pacing in the proximal CS and in 14% during flutter.
During the initial RF applications (99 seconds each), the catheter
was dragged from the TA toward the IVC. Applications were stopped
prematurely on catheter dislocation or the occurrence of an impedance
rise (n=4) or an audible "pop" (n=15). After 1 or more RF
applications without block, the ablation line was mapped for a residual
gap, and subsequent RF applications were directed to this
gap.4
After ablation, subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin was given for 1 week and aspirin for 6 weeks, except in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation, in whom oral anticoagulation was continued.
RA Angiography
Biplane angiography was performed after mapping and entrainment
and shortly before RF energy delivery, allowing maximal concordance of
the catheter positions during angiography and ablation. Right anterior
oblique (RAO) and left anterior oblique (LAO) views were individually
adjusted so that the His bundle catheter projected strictly
parallel to the x-rays in the LAO view and that the CS catheter made an
angle of 
10° to 15° in the RAO view. The mean RAO and LAO angles
were 43±10° (15° to 70°) and 49±10° (26° to 75°). A first
injection was made with a 6F or 7F pigtail located at the superior vena
cava (SVC)-RA junction and a second at the IVC (40 mL; 18 mL/s). A
single injection inside the RA did not always result in clear
delineation of the SVC, IVC, and CS and tricuspid orifices, right
atrial appendage, and isthmus. The angiograms were digitally acquired,
allowing replay and storage of RAO and LAO frames as references during
the subsequent ablation.
In 51 patients, a quantitative analysis of different RA
anatomic structures was made on the latest atrial diastolic
frame (confirmed by the opening of the tricuspid valve in the next
frame). Measurements were calibrated by interelectrode spaces
projecting perpendicular to the given cine view. The width of the
isthmus in the RAO view was measured between the IVC and the lower
hinge point of the tricuspid valve (points A and B in Figure 1A
). The isthmus often could be divided
into a recess (inferoposterior to the CS ostium) and a flat vestibule
(between this recess and the TA)11 : The width of each was
measured. The perpendicular distance between the line connecting A and
B and the deepest point of the isthmus was quantified. Also, the angle
between line A-B and a line parallel to the ablation catheter in the
terminal IVC was evaluated. In the LAO view, the distance between the
lateral aspect of the IVC orifice and the position of the ablation line
(points C and D) was measured.
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Statistical Analysis
Summary values are given as mean±SD if a normal distribution
was expected; otherwise median and range are used. Unpaired
t tests were used in the comparison of normal distributions,
and Mann-Whitney rank sum tests or Kruskal-Wallis statistics were used
in the absence of the assumption of a normal distribution (eg, the
number of RF applications). A value of P<0.05 was
considered significant.
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Results |
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Anatomic Observations
Figure 1A
shows contrast injections at the SVC and IVC
orifices, each visualizing the terminal part of the respective vena
cava and its RA junction. The isthmus generally could be evaluated
better during the IVC injection, as expected. Angiography revealed a
profound variability in isthmus anatomy. Its width varied from
17 to 54 mm (31.3±7.9) (Figure 2).
Also, the angle between the ablation catheter (in its terminal part in
the IVC) and the isthmus varied from a sharp angle of 68° to an open
angle of 114° (90.3±9.0°) (Table 1). An isthmus width of 
39
mm or catheter-IVC angle of 81° were both seen in only 18%. Each
could result in difficulty reaching the tricuspid aspect of the
isthmus. Their combination was present in 5% (Figure 2A).
An isthmus <21.5 mm was seen in 12%.
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More striking than differences in width was the recognition of special
anatomic configurations. In 31%, the maximal perpendicular distance
between a line connecting both ends of the isthmus and the isthmus
itself was 2 mm, leading to an almost straight appearance
(Figures 1A and 2A). In 22%, however, the isthmus showed
a more or less concave aspect (Figure 3A), with a mean depth of 4.1±2.1
mm (2.2 to 9.3 mm) (Table 1). In the remaining 47%, the
isthmus could be divided in a flat vestibular part against the TA and a
pouchlike recess at the IVC side (Figure 3, B, C, and D). Their
lengths were 12.7±3.6 and 17.3±5.1 mm, respectively. The average
depth of this sub-Eustachian pouch was 4.3±2.1 mm. It was deeper
than 5 mm in 18%. The presence of a limited "neck" sometimes
gave it an aneurysmal aspect (Figure 3D).
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Moreover, in 24% of the patients, a Eustachian valve could be
visualized between the IVC orifice and the isthmus. Often, it had a
membranous aspect, but it could be thick (as shown in Figure 4A).
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None of the morphological features (length or depth of the isthmus or its parts, or presence of a recess or Eustachian valve) was related to age, sex, or the presence of structural heart disease.
Relevance for the Ablation Approach
The angiographic images helped to evaluate the position of the
ablation tip in the RAO projection before and during RF
application. Current application at the TA was started only after
electrical confirmation (ie, atrioventricular amplitude [A/V] ratio
of <0.50) and angiographic confirmation that the ablation catheter
straddled the annulus (Figure 2A). The initial ablation catheter
was chosen after the angiography and was generally a 2.5-in catheter
with a proximal pull-wire (6-mm tip; 85% in the last 50 cases). In 18
patients with a long isthmus (40 mm), the insertion of a 3-in
catheter was necessary in 6 and/or the insertion of a guiding sheath in
7.
Two different ablation approaches were taken when a deep pouch was encountered: In 94% (44 of 47), the ablation catheter was explicitly directed into it (often with the use of a catheter different from the one chosen to ablate the vestibular part of the isthmus), whereas the aneurysm was avoided in 3 by ablation at the septal side of it.
Ablation catheters with a very short curve able to reach the
isthmus immediately behind the Eustachian valve (ie, 1.5-in
Cordis-Webster or a "small curve" EPT Blazer) were used
significantly more often in the presence of a valve (46% vs 5%,
P<0.001) to complete the ablation line (Figure 4, B
and C).
Isthmus block often coincided with full completion of a dragging RF
application from the TA to the IVC (Figure 1B). Interestingly,
in 12 of the 46 patients in whom the first application resulted in
block, it was achieved before completely finishing the dragging
movement over the anatomically defined isthmus. This indicated that
conducting tissue participating in the arrhythmia circuit was
not contained throughout the entire width of the isthmus.
Also, the position of the ablation line in the LAO projection was
variable. In 36 patients, it was positioned right-sided of the
lateral IVC edge, resulting in an oblique course of the ablation
catheter (Figure 5). The distance between
the lateral aspect of the IVC and the mid ablation catheter position on
the isthmus (C and D in Figure 1) varied from 13 to 0 mm
(4.3±3.9 mm).
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Ablation Results
Conduction block (which could be transient) was achieved in all
patients with a median of 2 RF applications (2.3±2.5). Figure 6A shows their distributions: In the last
50 patients, no more than 5 RF applications were required to achieve a
first block. Early recurrence of conduction after prior block
was seen in 51 patients. Additional applications led to permanent block
in 99% of the patients, with a median of 3 RF applications (3.4±3.0;
Figure 6B). The median energy delivered before first or
permanent block was 4913 J (6952±8390 J) and 7540 J (9890±10 725 J),
respectively. In 1 patient, only transient block could be achieved from
the 18th application on. No permanent block was present after 25 RF
applications, but the block cycle length had increased from 240 to 600
ms.
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Because we adapted the ablation approach to the observed anatomy, catheters were often exchanged. A mean of 2.0±0.9 catheters were used per patient (median 2; 1 to 5). This was not significantly different among the various anatomic subgroups, although there was a trend for a higher number of catheters in patients with Eustachian valves or aneurysmal isthmus.
The presence of a Eustachian valve also led to a significantly higher
number of applications to achieve both first and permanent block (Table 2). After the first such cases, we
realized that targeting the area immediately behind the Eustachian
valve was the key to success, requiring a catheter with a short curve
(compare with supra; after 1 or 2 applications with a longer-reaching
catheter). This explains the clear trend for fewer RF applications in
this subgroup in the last half of the study compared with the first
(median 3 vs 7; 3.1±1.4 vs 6.7±5.3; P=0.17). No patient in
this group required more than 6 RF applications in the last half of the
study. This also explains the significantly more frequent use of 4-mm
tips in the presence of a Eustachian valve (P<0.001),
whereas the distribution of 8- or 6-mm ablation tips was otherwise not
related to the ablation outcome or anatomic configuration. Also, a
concave aspect of the isthmus was significantly related to a higher
number of RF applications to achieve permanent block, and there was a
clear trend for a similar observation in the presence of a
sub-Eustachian recess. The number of RF applications was not related to
the position of the ablation catheter in the LAO projection.
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Table 2 also illustrates a manifest learning curve throughout
the study. When the patient group was subdivided into thirds, the
numbers of RF applications required to achieve a first and a permanent
block decreased statistically. In the last 34 patients, the median had
decreased to 1 and 2 RF applications, respectively. The corresponding
energies delivered were 3820 J (5554±3470 J) and 5920 J (6960±4820
J). This effect was seen as a trend throughout all anatomic subgroups,
but it did not reach statistical significance because of the smaller
number of observations.
The mean procedure and fluoroscopy times in all patients were 119±50 minutes and 26±14.8 minutes (90±24 minutes and 19.8±6.6 minutes in the last 34 patients). One patient had a groin hematoma requiring surgical exploration. Minor complications occurred in 5 patients. The angiography itself and RF delivery did not result in any adverse event.
After a mean follow-up of 13±11 months, no patient has had a recurrence of atrial flutter, including the patient with only transient block. Thirty patients had at least 1 episode of atrial fibrillation after a mean of 45 days.
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Discussion |
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TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
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Previous anatomic reports studying post mortem human hearts have pointed to the anatomic variability of the isthmus, reporting an average width of 27±3.3 mm (Reference 77 ) to 31±4 mm.6 8 These values correspond well with our angiographic findings of 31.3±7.9 mm. Interestingly, Wang et al6 reported on the presence of a prominent nonfenestrated Eustachian valve and of a thick, muscular-type Eustachian ridge in 10% and 20%, respectively, whereas we found evidence for such a structure in 24%.
There are very few anatomic data about this region in patients in general or in patients with flutter in particular.12 13 Cabrera et al11 recently reported on angiographic measurements in 23 patients and found a mean isthmus width of 37±8 mm. Also, their values for the relative length of the tricuspid vestibule and IVC recess are close to ours. Transthoracic and transesophageal isthmus evaluation in 105 patients after ablation for atrial flutter revealed similar variability in width and isthmus-IVC angulation.10
Thus far, almost no efforts have been made to adapt the ablation approach to the anatomic peculiarities of the isthmus in a given patient. Our findings show that a universal ablation approach for atrial flutter may not be optimal. We individualized the ablation approach, depending on the angiographic findings. In many patients, a combination of catheters was required to ensure adequate contact along the entire isthmus. This was especially true if there was a deep sub-Eustachian pouch, a concave deformation of the isthmus, or the presence of a Eustachian valve. These more complex anatomic configurations also led to a significantly higher number of required RF applications.
Cabrera et al8 described the IVC side of the isthmus as the membranous part because it did not contain musculature (and hence should not contribute to conduction). It could be up to 22 mm wide. This anatomic finding correlates with our observation that in 26% of the patients with isthmus block during the first application, it was achieved before completely finishing the dragging application from the TA toward the IVC.
Because this was not a randomized study between ablation with or
without angiography, we cannot conclude that performing angiography is
superior. Nevertheless, apart from the clear rationale of such an
approach as outlined above, there are other arguments for the added
value of angiography: (1) even when comparing only with those reports
that used dragging RF applications, block was achieved in more patients
and with fewer RF applications.2 9 14 15 We did not use
high-energy devices such as cooled electrodes16 and we
limited tip temperature to 57°C and power to 50 W; (2) there was a
clear learning-curve effect between the first, second, and third thirds
of our series (Table 2), without changes in types of catheter or
RF generator settings.
Other potential techniques for visualizing the isthmus conformation are intracardiac echocardiography or electroanatomic mapping. Further evaluation will be necessary to directly compare these approaches (which require special equipment) with the more widely available angiographic evaluation.
Although angiography may be useful for determining contact with the wall in the RAO projection and for targeting specific anatomic substrates, it provides little information for the positioning in the LAO projection. Catheter position in the LAO projection was mainly determined by the stability of the catheter on the isthmus, although we tried to avoid the septal aspect because of the higher risk of atrioventricular block17 18 and the thicker myocardium at that site. Even if a more oblique positioning of the ablation tip was required, it did not lead to a higher number of RF applications.
Because the definition of "1 application" varies widely (from discrete lesions with stepwise repositioning between applications1 3 to dragging applications2 9 14 15 ), it is difficult to compare the number of applications between different reports. Moreover, power settings and duration of the applications may vary. Therefore, in addition to the number of RF applications, we also reported the cumulative delivered energy (in Joules). It may serve as comparison for future reports.
We have no explanation for the inability to achieve permanent block in a single patient. Although the isthmus was relatively long, it had a straight aspect without any particular anatomic features. The repeated transient block and the wide separation of local electrograms without intermediate activity may suggest a deep connection. An irrigated-tip ablation catheter could be useful in such cases.16
We conclude that RA angiography is easy to perform and well tolerated. It reveals a highly variable isthmus anatomy, often showing particular configurations. Obstacles such as Eustachian valves, aneurysmal pouches, or even a concave deformation of the entire isthmus lead to more difficult ablation sessions. However, adaptation of the ablation approach to these angiographic anatomic findings is rational and may help to ablate this drug-defying arrhythmia with high success.
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Acknowledgments |
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This study was supported in part by a research grant from Astra Pharmaceuticals Belgium. Dr Heidbüchel is a Clinical Investigator of the Fund for Scientific Research-Flanders.
Received August 2, 1999; revision received November 30, 1999; accepted December 10, 1999.
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N. Fragakis, A. Kotsakis, N. Patel, J. Bostock, E. Rosenthal, P. Holt, C. Bucknall, and J. Gill Atrial flutter ablation: Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a single decapolar electrode to demonstrate bidirectional isthmus block Europace, January 1, 2001; 3(4): 304 - 310. [Abstract] [PDF]
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