CT of the pulmonary veins

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac rhythm disturbance and its incidence is increasing. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is a highly successful therapy for treating AF, and its use is becoming more widespread; however, with its increasing use and evolving technique, known complicatio...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of thoracic imaging Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 63
Main Authors Lacomis, Joan M, Goitein, Orly, Deible, Christopher, Schwartzman, David
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.02.2007
Subjects
Atrial Fibrillation - diagnosis
Atrial Fibrillation - surgery
Catheter Ablation - adverse effects
Heart Atria - anatomy & histology
Heart Atria - diagnostic imaging
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods
Postoperative Complications - diagnosis
Pulmonary Veins - anatomy & histology
Pulmonary Veins - diagnostic imaging
Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac rhythm disturbance and its incidence is increasing. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is a highly successful therapy for treating AF, and its use is becoming more widespread; however, with its increasing use and evolving technique, known complications are better understood and new complications are emerging. Computed tomography (CT) of the pulmonary veins, or more correctly, the posterior left atrium (LA), has an established role in precisely defining the complex anatomy of the LA and pulmonary veins preablation and has an expanding role in identifying the myriad of possible complications postablation. The purposes of this article are: to review AF and RFCA; to discuss CT evaluation of the LA and pulmonary veins preablation; and to review the complications of RFCA focusing on the role of CT postablation.
ISSN:0883-5993
1536-0237
DOI:10.1097/RTI.0b013e3180317aaf