Dominant frequency of individual virtual electrograms in persistent AF was temporally unstable, indicating that targeting peak DF sites from a single time frame is an unreliable ablation strategy.
Observational (n=8)
Dominant frequency mapping in persistent AF shows temporal instability, suggesting that targeting peak DF from a single time frame is unlikely to be a reliable ablation strategy.
INTRODUCTION: The role of substrates in the maintenance of persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF) remains poorly understood. The use of dominant frequency (DF) mapping to guide catheter ablation has been proposed as a potential strategy, but the characteristics of high DF sites have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to assess the DF spatiotemporal stability using high density noncontact mapping (NCM) in persAF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight persAF patients were studied using NCM during AF. Ventricular far-field cancellation was performed followed by the calculation of DF using Fast Fourier Transform. Analysis of DF stability and spatiotemporal behavior were investigated including characteristics of the highest DF areas (HDFAs). A total of 16,384 virtual electrograms (VEGMs) and 232 sequential high density 3-dimensional DF maps were analyzed. The percentage of DF stable points decreased rapidly over time. Repetition or reappearance of DF values were noted in some instances, occurring within 10 seconds in most cases. Tracking the HDFAs' center of gravity revealed 3 types of propagation behavior, namely (i) local, (ii) cyclical, and (iii) chaotic activity, with the former 2 patterns accounting for most of the observed events. CONCLUSIONS: DF of individual VEGMs was temporally unstable, although reappearance of DF values occurred at times. Hence, targeting sites of 'peak DF' from a single time frame is unlikely to be a reliable ablation strategy. There appears to be a predominance of local and cyclical activity of HDFAs hinting a potentially nonrandom temporally periodic behavior that provides further mechanistic insights into the maintenance of persAF.
Salinet et al. (Mon,) conducted a observational in Drug-refractory persistent atrial fibrillation (n=8). High density noncontact mapping (NCM) was evaluated on Dominant frequency spatiotemporal stability and behavior of highest DF areas. Dominant frequency of individual virtual electrograms in persistent AF was temporally unstable, indicating that targeting peak DF sites from a single time frame is an unreliable ablation strategy.
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