Key result
Fluoroless 3D mapping-guided ablation successfully eliminates a coronary sinus epicardial accessory pathway without recurrence at 1 year.
Why the study?
Accessory pathways associated with the coronary sinus are rare and challenging to ablate, often requiring coronary sinus venography for anatomical guidance.
Does fluoroless ablation using 3D electroanatomic mapping without venography prevent recurrent tachycardia in a patient with a coronary sinus-related epicardial accessory pathway?
Case Report (n=1)
No
Does fluoroless ablation using 3D electroanatomic mapping without venography prevent recurrent tachycardia in a patient with a coronary sinus-related epicardial accessory pathway?
Advanced 3D mapping enables safe, zero-fluoroscopy ablation of complex coronary sinus-associated epicardial accessory pathways without the need for contrast venography.
Supports feasibility of fluoroless 3D mapping-guided ablation for coronary sinus epicardial pathways; hypothesis-generating pending larger series.
Accessory pathways (APs) associated with the coronary sinus (CS), often linked to diverticula, are rare and challenging to ablate, frequently requiring CS venography for anatomical guidance. We report the case of a 56-year-old woman with recurrent palpitations, manifest pre-excitation, and two prior failed ablations for a presumed posteroseptal pathway. The electrocardiogram showed an immediately negative QRS complex in the inferior leads, suggesting an epicardial CS-related pathway. Using solely three-dimensional (3D) electroanatomic mapping (CARTO™; J&J MedTech, New Brunswick, NJ, USA) without fluoroscopy or CS angiogram, we reconstructed the geometry of the right atrium, venae cavae, and CS. Mapping revealed early ventricular activation and fused atrioventricular signals in distal CS, enabling successful radiofrequency ablation at 30 W with immediate loss of antegrade conduction. No retrograde conduction persisted post-adenosine, and tachycardia was non-inducible. The patient remained symptom-free at 1-year follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported successful fluoroless ablation of a CS-related epicardial AP without venography, highlighting the role of advanced 3D mapping in reducing radiation and contrast risks in complex cases.
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Costa et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Coronary sinus-related epicardial accessory pathway with recurrent palpitations and manifest pre-excitation (n=1). Fluoroless radiofrequency ablation guided by 3D electroanatomic mapping (CARTO) was evaluated on Successful ablation with loss of antegrade conduction and non-inducibility of tachycardia. Fluoroless radiofrequency ablation guided solely by 3D mapping successfully eliminated a coronary sinus-related epicardial accessory pathway, rendering the patient symptom-free at 1 year.
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