Anatomical Basis for the Cardiac Interventional Electrophysiologist

The establishment of radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques as the mainstay in the treatment of tachycardia has renewed new interest in cardiac anatomy. The interventional arrhythmologist has drawn attention not only to the gross anatomic details of the heart but also to architectural and histo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Damián Sánchez-Quintana, Manuel Doblado-Calatrava, José Angel Cabrera, Yolanda Macías, Farhood Saremi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2015-01-01
Series:BioMed Research International
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/547364
Description
Summary:The establishment of radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques as the mainstay in the treatment of tachycardia has renewed new interest in cardiac anatomy. The interventional arrhythmologist has drawn attention not only to the gross anatomic details of the heart but also to architectural and histological characteristics of various cardiac regions that are relevant to the development or recurrence of tachyarrhythmias and procedural related complications of catheter ablation. In this review, therefore, we discuss some anatomic landmarks commonly used in catheter ablations including the terminal crest, sinus node region, Koch’s triangle, cavotricuspid isthmus, Eustachian ridge and valve, pulmonary venous orifices, venoatrial junctions, and ventricular outflow tracts. We also discuss the anatomical features of important structures in the vicinity of the atria and pulmonary veins, such as the esophagus and phrenic nerves. This paper provides basic anatomic information to improve understanding of the mapping and ablative procedures for cardiac interventional electrophysiologists.
ISSN:2314-6133
2314-6141