Use of Contemporary Imaging Techniques for Electrophysiological and Device Implantation Procedures

Abstract

Recent technological advances in cardiac imaging allow the visualization of anatomic details up to millimeter size in 3-dimensional format. Thus, it is not surprising that electrophysiologists increasingly rely upon cardiac imaging for the diagnosis, treatment, and subsequent management of patients affected by various arrhythmic disorders. Cardiac imaging methods reviewed in the present work involve: 1) the prediction of arrhythmic risk for sudden cardiac death in patients with heart disease; 2) catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia; and 3) cardiac resynchronization therapy. Future integration of diagnostic and interventional cardiac imaging will further increase the effectiveness of cardiac electrophysiological procedures and will help in delivering patient-specific therapies with ablation and cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; cardiac magnetic resonance; cardiac resynchronization therapy; cardiac tomography; sudden cardiac death; transesophageal echocardiography; ventricular tachycardia.