Efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation for the elimination of chronic atrial fibrillation in cardiac valvular surgery Taijiro Sueda, MD, Katsuhiko Imai, MD, Osamu Ishii, MD, Kazumasa Orihashi, MD, Masanobu Watari, MD, Kenji Okada, MD The Annals of Thoracic Surgery Volume 71, Issue 4, Pages 1189-1193 (April 2001) DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(00)02606-0
Fig 1 Schema of the procedure. A right-sided vertical atriotomy on the left atrium was extended to the left margin of the left pulmonary vein orifices. Complementary cryoablation (−60°C, 3 minutes) was then applied to the remnant of the left atrial wall between the left upper pulmonary vein orifice and the left lower pulmonary vein orifice. (SN = sinus node; TV = tricuspid valve; RA = right atrium; RAA = right atrial appendage; MV = mitral valve; LA = left atrium; LAA = left atrial appendage; l.PV = left pulmonary vein; rt. lower PV = right lower pulmonary vein; rt. upper PV = right upper pulmonary vein; PV = pulmonary vein; SVC = superior vena cava; IVC = inferior vena cava; CRYO = cryoablation.) The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2001 71, 1189-1193DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(00)02606-0)
Fig 2 Distribution of the surface electrodes (left) and the surface lead II electrocardiogram and 12 representative bipolar epicardial electrograms. The schema represents the distribution of the surface electrodes on both atria. The left atrium showed regular and repetitive activations (points 7, 8, 9, 10). The right atrium showed irregular and chaotic activations (points 3, 4, 5, 6). (SVC = superior vena cava; IVC = inferior vena cava; QRS = ventricular activation; RA = right atrium; RAA = right atrial appendage; SA = sinus node; PV = pulmonary vein; LA = left atrium; LAA = left atrial appendage.) The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2001 71, 1189-1193DOI: (10.1016/S0003-4975(00)02606-0)