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2022 AF Symposium
Spotlight Sessions: These feature products or devices still in development or not yet FDA approved. They give us a glimpse into what the future of A-Fib treatment may look like. This year 17 Spotlight products and treatments were presented in 5 minute talks.
Spotlight Session: Calculating Left Atrium Wall Thickness
Dr. Saman Nazarian
In this session Dr. Saman Nazarian of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA presented on “Personalization AF Ablation Based on CT Wall Thickness” by the company Circle Cardiovascular Imaging. [CT stands for Computerized Tomography.]
Left Atrium Wall Thickness: The left atrium wall thickness varies from 1 mm to over 5 mm in the roof area. If one applies too much RF ablation power to a thin wall, this can produce steam pops, esophagus damage, or phrenic nerve damage. If too little RF energy is applied to thicker left atrium wall areas, this can lead to Pulmonary Veins (PV) reconnection.
Measuring Wall Thickness: Using Computed Tomography (CT) to measure atrium wall thickness, Circle Cardiovascular Imaging, Inc. proposes to “ablate by LAW” (Left Atrium Wall thickness).
It uses computed tomography to measure wall thickness, segmentation, and calculates the distance between endo and epicardial layers.
These measurements can be incorporated into mapping systems. An ablation index value is developed based on Left Atrial wall thickness. The proper amount of RF energy can than be applied to various parts of the left atrium.
Editor’s Comments
The concept of measuring left atrium wall thickness certainly seems like an improvement in RF catheter ablation.
But looking to new developments, one wonders if or how it would apply to Pulsed Field Ablation―the future of A-Fib catheter ablation.
If you find any errors on this page, email us. Y Last updated: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
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