Main description:

Radiofrequency catheter ablation has become first-line therapy for patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation. Until recently, little progress had been made in the development of new ablation catheters. Traditionally, ablation is performed using single-tip, point-by-point ablation, but this technique is lengthy, requires a high skill level, and makes it difficult to create reliable contiguous transmural lesions. With the development of the Pulmonary Vein Ablation Catheter(R) (PVAC(R)), a radiofrequency ablation catheter has become available specifically for use in atrial fibrillation. This tool uses an over-the-wire multielectrode catheter to map, ablate, and verify isolation of pulmonary veins. This highly illustrated resource is essential reading for those wishing to extend their knowledge of ablation techniques with the PVAC.

Contents:

1. From generator to pulmonary vein isolation 2. Fluoroscopic anatomy of the left atrium 3. PVAC management in practice 4. The electrode and the electrogram 5. How to assess pulmonary vein isolation using the PVAC and the coronary sinus catheter 6. Differential pacing beyond the coronary sinus to validate isolation of the pulmonary vein 7. Additional maneuvers to ensure pulmonary vein isolation 8. Unusual tracings during ablation using the PVAC