State of the Art: Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Cardiovascular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2025 | Viewed by 360

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Hôpital Cardiologique Haut-Lévêque, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, L’Institut de Rythmologie et Modélisation Cardiaque, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Interests: atrial fibrillation; catheter ablation; pulsed-field ablation; supraventricular arrhythmias; atrial substrate

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
2. Hôpital Cardiologique Haut-Lévêque, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, L’Institut de Rythmologie et Modélisation Cardiaque, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
Interests: ventricular arrhythmias; ventricular fibrillation; channelopathis; Brugada Syndrome; atrial fibrillation; chateter ablation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has evolved significantly since its inception, transforming from an experimental procedure to a cornerstone of AF management. Currently, it is on the verge of a major transformation, driven by new technologies that offer a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying this arrhythmia and by ablation techniques, such as pulsed field ablation, that are poised to greatly enhance the safety and efficacy of these procedures.

This Special Issue aims to explore the latest breakthroughs in catheter ablation for AF, focusing on revolutionary technologies and methodologies. We seek to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art, emphasizing innovations that deepen our understanding of AF mechanisms and improve procedural outcomes. We will feature cutting-edge research that delves into the electrophysiological underpinnings of AF, as well as studies showcasing the latest ablation strategies and technologies.

We invite original research articles and reviews that address novel insights into AF pathophysiology, state-of-the-art ablation techniques, and technological advancements. Papers that highlight the clinical application and outcomes of new technologies, particularly PFA, are highly encouraged.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Roberto Menè
Dr. Cinzia Monaco
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • atrial fibrillation
  • catheter ablation
  • pulsed-field ablation
  • supraventricular arrhythmias
  • atrial substrate

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 4516 KiB  
Article
Left Atrial Wall Thickness Estimated by Cardiac CT: Implications for Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
by Pedro Silva Cunha, Sérgio Laranjo, Sofia Monteiro, Inês Grácio Almeida, Tiago Mendonça, Iládia Fontes, Rui Cruz Ferreira, Ana G. Almeida, Maxim Didenko and Mário Martins Oliveira
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(18), 5379; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13185379 - 11 Sep 2024
Viewed by 195
Abstract
Atrial wall thickness (AWT) is a significant factor in understanding the pathological physiological substrate of atrial fibrillation, with a potentially substantial impact on the outcomes of catheter ablation procedures. Precise measurements of the AWT may provide valuable insights for categorising patients with AF [...] Read more.
Atrial wall thickness (AWT) is a significant factor in understanding the pathological physiological substrate of atrial fibrillation, with a potentially substantial impact on the outcomes of catheter ablation procedures. Precise measurements of the AWT may provide valuable insights for categorising patients with AF and planning targeted interventions. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the left atrium (LA) using non-invasive multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans and subsequent three-dimensional (3D) image post-processing using novel software designed to calculate atrial thickness dimensions and mass. Methods: We retrospectively analysed 128 consecutive patients (33.6% females; mean age 55.6 ± 11.2 years) referred for AF ablation (37 with persistent AF and 91 with paroxysmal AF) who underwent preprocedural MDCT. The images were post-processed and analysed using the ADAS software (Galgo Medical), automatically calculating the LA volume and regional wall thickness. In addition, the software employed a regional semi-automatic LA parcellation feature that divided the atrial wall into 12 segments, generating atrial wall thickness (AWT) maps per segment for each patient. Results: This study demonstrated considerable variability in the average thickness of LA walls, with the anterior segments being the thickest across the cohort. Distinct sex-specific differences were observed, with males exhibiting greater anterior and septal wall thickness than females. No significant associations were identified between the average AWT and body mass index, LA volume, or sphericity. Survival analysis conducted over 24 months revealed a meaningful relationship between mean anterior wall thickness and recurrence-free survival, with increased thickness associated with a lower likelihood of AF-free survival. No such relationship was observed for the indexed LA volume. Conclusions: The variability in AWT and its association with recurrence-free survival following AF ablation suggest that AWT should be considered when stratifying patients for AF management and ablation strategies. These findings underscore the need for personalised treatment approaches and further research on the interplay of the structural properties of the left atrium as factors that can serve as important prognostic markers in AF treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue State of the Art: Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop