Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia in man. Current ablation methods consist of maze-like procedures guided solely by anatomy. The current research is designed to develop an animal model of AF by implementing a method of AF ablation guided by on-line electrical (and anatomical, if appropriate) data.
Thirty goats underwent tricuspid valve tear using the hook catheter. Six of the 30 goats underwent atrial pacemaker implantation and were paced at 300-600 bpm for five to ten weeks. Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was successfully achieved in 18 goats (including the six with pacemakers). In three additional goats sterile pericarditis was induced. Five goats died during attempts to achieve mitral regurgitation. In four goats, attempts to create tricuspid regurgitation failed. Of the 18 goats with TR, two died within 24 hours and five additional ones died within the first month.
Of the remaining 11 goats, seven underwent EPS (including four with pacemakers). 2/7 with chronic AF had right atrial study only, while in 5/7 both atria were studied with the Constellation catheter during AF. 1/7 has survived until today.
Overall 85 episodes of AF were recorded by at least four splines in the RA. Complete RA recording was recorded for 14 episodes. Effective refractory period was recorded in both atria in five goats.
In conclusion, the study is proceeding well, but at the present stage no conclusion can be drawn regarding the value of the electrical-anatomical approach to the cure of AF. Further study is necessary.
