Spatial Relationships of Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms and Continuous Electrical Activity to Focal Electrical Sources: Implications for Substrate Ablation in Human Atrial Fibrillation

Simon Kochhäuser, Atul Verma, Rupin Dalvi, Adrian Suszko, Pouria Alipour, Prashanthan Sanders, Jean Champagne, Laurent Macle, Girish M. Nair, Hugh Calkins, David J. Wilber, Vijay S. Chauhan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives This study sought to evaluate the spatial relationships of focal electrical sources (FSs) to complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) and continuous electrical activity (CEA). Background Fractionated atrial electrograms have been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) drivers in computational studies and represent ablation targets in the management of persistent AF. Methods We included a subset of 66 patients (age: 63 [56, 67] years, 69% persistent AF) with electroanatomic data from the SELECT AF (Selective complex fractionated atrial electrograms targeting for atrial fibrillation) randomized control trial that compared the efficacy of CFAE with CEA ablation in AF patients undergoing pulmonary vein antral ablation. Focal sources were identified based on bipolar electrogram periodicity and QS unipolar electrogram morphology. Results A total of 77 FSs (median: 1 [1st quartile, 3rd quartile: 1, 2] per patient) were identified most commonly in the pulmonary vein antrum and left atrial appendage. The proportions of FSs inside CFAE and CEA regions were similar (13% vs. 1.3%, respectively; p = 0.13). Focal sources were more likely to be on the border zone of CFAEs than in CEAs (49% vs. 7.8%, respectively; p = 0.012). Following ablation, 53% of patients had ≥1 unablated extrapulmonary vein FS. The median number of unablated FS was higher in patients with AF recurrence post ablation than in patients without (median: 1 [0, 1] vs. 0 [0, 1], respectively; p = 0.026). Conclusions One-half of the FSs detected during AF localized to the border of CFAE areas, whereas most of the FSs were found outside CEA areas. CFAE or CEA ablation leaves a number of FS unablated, which is associated with AF recurrence. These findings suggest that many CFAEs may arise from passive wave propagation, remote from FS, which may limit their therapeutic efficacy in AF substrate modification.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1220-1228
Number of pages9
JournalJACC: Clinical Electrophysiology
Volume3
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2017

Keywords

  • CFAE
  • ablation
  • atrial fibrillation
  • focal electrical sources

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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