Advances in various imaging modalities, including CT, MRI, and ultrasound, aim to improve anatomical representation, assess scar formation in real time, and increase the success of atrial fibrillation ablation.
Advances in multimodality imaging are enhancing the planning, execution, and potential success rates of atrial fibrillation ablation procedures.
Over the last fifteen years, our understanding of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF) has paved the way for ablation to be utilized as an effective treatment option. With the aim of gaining more detailed anatomical representation, advances have been made using various imaging modalities, both before and during the ablation procedure, in planning and execution. Options have flourished from procedural fluoroscopy, electroanatomic mapping systems, preprocedural computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and combinations of these technologies. Exciting work is underway in an effort to allow the electrophysiologist to assess scar formation in real time. One advantage would be to lessen the learning curve for what are very complex procedures. The hope of these developments is to improve the likelihood of a successful ablation procedure and to allow more patients access to this treatment.
D’Silva et al. (2011) conducted a review in Atrial fibrillation. Imaging modalities for ablation (fluoroscopy, electroanatomic mapping, CT, MRI, ultrasound) was evaluated. Advances in various imaging modalities, including CT, MRI, and ultrasound, aim to improve anatomical representation, assess scar formation in real time, and increase the success of atrial fibrillation ablation.
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