Endocardial ablation at the mitral valve vestibule and its surroundings for the treatment of arrhythmias linked to the greater cardiac vasculature.

BACKGROUND: The role of the epicardial vasculature in supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias was described in clinical studies as well as its treatment by intravascular point ablation or alcohol injection. We report on a case series of patients with different arrhythmias linked to an epicardial site of origin with evidence supporting transmural extensions that were targeted for ablation with successful outcomes.

METHODS: The records of patients who has catheter ablation for Supraventricular or Ventricular arrhythmias between 2015 and 2020 was searched for patients with (1) arrhythmias linked to the epicardial vasculature and (2) findings to support an endocardial connection to the epicardial vasculature by activation mapping, pace mapping, or differential pacing, and (3) were successfully ablated via an endocardial approach only.

RESULTS: From the data searched, we identified five patients with the following arrhythmias left ventricular summit ectopy, peri-mitral atrial flutter, preexcitation with inducible atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT), and a concealed left side accessory pathway with inducible AVRT that were linked to the following vessels: Great Cardiac vein, persistent left superior vena cava, left coronary cusp, and left ventricular outflow tract. Endocardial connections were supported by a combination of electro anatomical activation mapping, pace-mapping, and differential pacing. Endocardial ablations performed in all patients were successful without complications.

CONCLUSION: This report highlights a subset of patients with arrhythmias linked to the greater cardiac vascular system that can be safely and effectively ablated endocardially, given the limitations and possible complications of epicardial ablation within or in the proximity of the epicardial vasculature.