Key result
Endocardial radiofrequency ablation lesions were almost transmural, whereas epicardial lesions remained superficial, possibly due to the insulating epicardial fat layer in a single explanted heart.
Case Report (n=1)
Caution against assuming epicardial lesion depth from ex vivo data; leaves open in vivo validation of endocardial versus epicardial ablation.
We report the histological evaluation of both endocardial and epicardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation lesions in the explanted heart of a patient presenting with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy complicated by recurrent electrical storms. In this case, chronic RF lesions were almost transmural at the endocardial side, while remaining only superficial at the epicardial aspect, possibly because of the insulating interposed epicardial fat layer.
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Maury et al. (2008) conducted a case report in Nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (n=1). Endocardial and epicardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation was evaluated on Histological evaluation of RF ablation lesions. Endocardial radiofrequency ablation lesions were almost transmural, whereas epicardial lesions remained superficial, possibly due to the insulating epicardial fat layer in a single explanted heart.
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