Non-invasive magnetocardiographic localization of ventricular pre-excitation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome using a realistic torso model

• Published in: European heart journal Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 168
• Main Authors: Nenonen, J, Mäkijärvi, M, Toivonen, L, Forsman, K, Leiniö, M, Montonen, J, Järvinen, A, Keto, P, Hekali, P, Katila, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.02.1993
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Heart Conduction System - pathology; Heart Conduction System - physiopathology; Heart Ventricles - physiopathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetics; Male; Middle Aged; Models, Cardiovascular; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome - diagnosis; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome - pathology; Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome - physiopathology
• ISSN: 0195-668X
• DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/14.2.168

This study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of magnetocardiography in non-invasive localization of the ventricular pre-excitation site in patients suffering from the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Twelve WPW patients were studied, in whom the pre-excitation caused serious supraventricular arrhythmias refractory to drug therapy. Magnetocardiographic measurements were performed in a magnetically shielded room, and non-invasive localization was computed from preprocessed magnetic signals using a current dipole source in a realistically shaped digital torso. All patients underwent intra-operative multicatheter mapping and subsequent dissection of the accessory atrioventricular connection. The intra-operative localization results were marked on magnetic resonance images of the heart, where magnetocardiographic results were also superimposed to allow comparison. The average of the three-dimensional differences between the magnetocardiographic and the invasive results was 2.1 +/- 0.9 cm. In all cases, the computed localization result was in the same or adjacent anatomical region as the intra-operative result. The present results show that the magnetocardiographic method using a realistic torso model is capable of localizing pre-excitation sites with sufficient accuracy to provide extra information so that non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions can be applied.