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Epicardial Right Free Wall Mapping in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation—Documentation of Repetitive Activation with a Focal Spread—A Hitherto Unrecognized Phenomenon in Man

Holm, Magnus LU ; Johansson, Rolf LU orcid ; Brandt, Johan LU ; Lührs, Carsten LU and Olsson, Bertil LU (1997) In European Heart Journal 18(2). p.290-310
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Previous studies have shown that atrial fibrillation of recent onset in man is based on a varying number of simultaneously present activation waves reentering either themselves or each other. In the present study, right atrial activation during chronic atrial fibrillation in man was studied.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In 16 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation multiple epicardial recordings of 8 s each were made at the right atrial posterior free wall and at the appendage using a 20 x 35 mm electrode array with 56 bipolar measurement points. The preferable activation pattern of each recording and the propagation direction, cycle length and conduction velocity of individual activation waves within each recording were... (More)
BACKGROUND:
Previous studies have shown that atrial fibrillation of recent onset in man is based on a varying number of simultaneously present activation waves reentering either themselves or each other. In the present study, right atrial activation during chronic atrial fibrillation in man was studied.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In 16 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation multiple epicardial recordings of 8 s each were made at the right atrial posterior free wall and at the appendage using a 20 x 35 mm electrode array with 56 bipolar measurement points. The preferable activation pattern of each recording and the propagation direction, cycle length and conduction velocity of individual activation waves within each recording were determined. Activation was characterized by unorganised activation with several simultaneously present activation waves: inconsistent preferable activation pattern (n = 5), predominantly organised activation with either frequent episodes of uniform activation: consistent preferable activation pattern (n = 7) or frequent episodes of activation with focal spread; focal preferable activation pattern (n = 4). Random re-entry was frequently documented in recordings with the inconsistent preferable activation pattern and less frequently in recordings with the consistent and focal preferable activation pattern. Complete re-entry circuits were rarely documented. The median fibrillation cycle length was 146, 159 (P < 0.05) and 165 ms (not significant) and the mean conduction velocity during uniform activation was 64, 67 and 83 cm. s-1 (not significant) in recordings with the inconsistent, consistent and focal preferable activation pattern, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
During chronic atrial fibrillation in man, right atrial free wall activation ranges from disorganised activation with multiple co-existing activation waves to predominantly organised activation characterized by either uniform activation consistent with the presence of large re-entry circuits or repetitive activation of unknown mechanism and focal spread. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
European Heart Journal
volume
18
issue
2
pages
290 - 310
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISSN
1522-9645
DOI
10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a015233
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e72dd390-1de0-4aad-9f7e-529d91d4bfc0
date added to LUP
2019-03-30 17:53:54
date last changed
2022-08-17 15:38:03
@article{e72dd390-1de0-4aad-9f7e-529d91d4bfc0,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND:<br>
Previous studies have shown that atrial fibrillation of recent onset in man is based on a varying number of simultaneously present activation waves reentering either themselves or each other. In the present study, right atrial activation during chronic atrial fibrillation in man was studied.<br>
METHODS AND RESULTS:<br>
In 16 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation multiple epicardial recordings of 8 s each were made at the right atrial posterior free wall and at the appendage using a 20 x 35 mm electrode array with 56 bipolar measurement points. The preferable activation pattern of each recording and the propagation direction, cycle length and conduction velocity of individual activation waves within each recording were determined. Activation was characterized by unorganised activation with several simultaneously present activation waves: inconsistent preferable activation pattern (n = 5), predominantly organised activation with either frequent episodes of uniform activation: consistent preferable activation pattern (n = 7) or frequent episodes of activation with focal spread; focal preferable activation pattern (n = 4). Random re-entry was frequently documented in recordings with the inconsistent preferable activation pattern and less frequently in recordings with the consistent and focal preferable activation pattern. Complete re-entry circuits were rarely documented. The median fibrillation cycle length was 146, 159 (P &lt; 0.05) and 165 ms (not significant) and the mean conduction velocity during uniform activation was 64, 67 and 83 cm. s-1 (not significant) in recordings with the inconsistent, consistent and focal preferable activation pattern, respectively.<br>
CONCLUSIONS:<br>
During chronic atrial fibrillation in man, right atrial free wall activation ranges from disorganised activation with multiple co-existing activation waves to predominantly organised activation characterized by either uniform activation consistent with the presence of large re-entry circuits or repetitive activation of unknown mechanism and focal spread.}},
  author       = {{Holm, Magnus and Johansson, Rolf and Brandt, Johan and Lührs, Carsten and Olsson, Bertil}},
  issn         = {{1522-9645}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{290--310}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{European Heart Journal}},
  title        = {{Epicardial Right Free Wall Mapping in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation—Documentation of Repetitive Activation with a Focal Spread—A Hitherto Unrecognized Phenomenon in Man}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a015233}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/oxfordjournals.eurheartj.a015233}},
  volume       = {{18}},
  year         = {{1997}},
}