Sunday March 22, 2009
Pulmonary Vein ablation

Almost all atrial fibrillation signals come from the four pulmonary veins. Pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), also called pulmonary vein ablation, is a treatment for atrial fibrillation. A special machine delivers energy through the catheters to the area of the atria that connects to the pulmonary vein (ostia). This energy (ablation) produces a circular scar that blocks any impulses firing from within the pulmonary vein, thereby "disconnecting" the pathway of the abnormal rhythm and preventing atrial fibrillation. In some cases, pulmonary vein ablation also may be performed in other parts of the heart such as the superior vena cava.





Anatomic Carto map of the left atrium showing lesion sets in circumferential pulmonary vein ablation. (A) Circumferential lesions in the left atrium encircling individual pulmonary veins. (B) Circumferential lesions were placed in the left atrium encircling ipsilateral pulmonary veins. Additional linear lesions were placed to the posterior left atrium and the mitral isthmus.

LIPV, left inferior pulmonary vein;
LSPV, left superior pulmonary vein;
MA, mitral annulus;
RIPV, right inferior pulmonary vein;
RSPV, right superior pulmonary vein.