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Anatomical and electrophysiological variations of Koch’s triangle and the impact on the slow pathway ablation in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: a study using 3D mapping

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Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to reveal individual variations in Koch’s triangle using NavX and to evaluate the efficacy of the NavX-guided slow pathway ablation.

Methods

A regional geometry around Koch’s triangle was constructed in 42 consecutive patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), and a bipolar electrogram map was created with 72 ± 30 sampling points during sinus rhythm to identify sites with Haissaguerre’s slow potentials (SPs) and His bundle electrograms (HBEs) to examine the anatomical and electrical variations. Radiofrequency ablation was performed at the most prominent SP recording site. The acute results and long-term outcome were examined in comparison to another 42 consecutive patients who underwent a conventional fluoroscopy-guided slow pathway ablation in the previous months.

Results

The size of Koch’s triangle and the coronary sinus ostium varied over a wide range of 132 to 490 and 69 to 346 mm2, respectively. HBEs were recorded linearly along the antero-septal right atrium (n = 29) or deviated downward toward the midseptum (n = 13, 31 %). The SPs were always distributed below the lowest HBE recording site. The NavX-guided ablation eliminated AVNRT with a median of 1 radiofrequency pulse, 9.1 ± 4.6 min of fluoroscopy, and 49 ± 14 min of procedure time, all of which were significantly smaller than those in fluoroscopy-guided ablation. No procedure-related complications or long-term recurrence was noted in either group.

Conclusion

Koch’s triangle varies in terms of the size and electrogram distribution, and the NavX-guided slow pathway ablation overcomes the diversity and seems more effective than fluoroscopy-guided ablation.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Tsuchiya has served as a speaker and consultant for Nihon Kohden and St. Jude Medical.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EP Expert Doctors—Team Tsuchiya, Koto 3-14-28, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 862-0909, Japan

    Takanori Yamaguchi, Takeshi Tsuchiya & Yasutsugu Nagamoto

  2. Division of Cardiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Japan

    Koji Miyamoto

  3. Division of Cardiology, Saga Prefectural Hospital Koseikan, Saga, Japan

    Kenji Sadamatsu

  4. Omura Municipal Hospital Cardiovascular Center, Omura, Japan

    Yoshito Tanioka

  5. Division of Cardiology, Saiseikai Futsukaichi Hospital, Chikushino, Japan

    Toshiaki Kadokami

  6. Translational Research Informatics Center, Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation, Kobe, Japan

    Kenta Murotani

  7. Department of Laboratory Examination and Diagnostics, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Oita, Japan

    Naohiko Takahashi

Authors
  1. Takanori Yamaguchi
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  2. Takeshi Tsuchiya
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  3. Yasutsugu Nagamoto
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  4. Koji Miyamoto
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  5. Kenji Sadamatsu
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  6. Yoshito Tanioka
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  7. Toshiaki Kadokami
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  8. Kenta Murotani
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  9. Naohiko Takahashi
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Correspondence to Takeshi Tsuchiya.

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Yamaguchi, T., Tsuchiya, T., Nagamoto, Y. et al. Anatomical and electrophysiological variations of Koch’s triangle and the impact on the slow pathway ablation in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: a study using 3D mapping. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 37, 111–120 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-012-9769-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-012-9769-z

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