Transseptal puncture and catheter ablation via the superior vena cava approach for persistent atrial fibrillation in a patient with polysplenia syndrome and interruption of the inferior vena cava: contact force-guided pulmonary vein isolation

Percutaneous transhepatic access for catheter ablation of a patient with heterotaxy syndrome complicated with atrial fibrillation: A case report

BACKGROUND

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias, and radiofrequency catheter ablation is the most effective treatment strategy. The inferior vena cava (IVC) is a common approach for radiofrequency ablation of AF. However, this approach may not be applied to some cases such as chronic venous occlusions, surgical ligation of the IVC, and heterotaxy syndrome (HS).

CASE SUMMARY

A 68-year-old man with HS suffered from severely symptomatic persistent AF for 9 years, and we successfully ablated by percutaneous transhepatic access.

CONCLUSION

In patients without femoral vein access, the use of the hepatic vein for pulmonary vein isolation is a viable alternative for invasive electrophysiology procedures.

A case report of pulmonary vein isolation performed in a patient with polysplenia and interrupted inferior vena cava

Background

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has entrenched itself as one of the main approaches for the treatment of paroxysmal symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary vein isolation prevents focal triggers from pulmonary veins from initiating AF paroxysms. As standard—PVI is performed through the inferior vena cava (IVC) approach, through the femoral vein. However, there are conditions when this approach is not appropriate or is not available.

Case summary

We report a case of a 53-year-old male who was referred to Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital for PVI due to worsening AF. Due to the rare anatomical variant of the venous system, the standard approach to PVI could not be applied. Interrupted cava inferior did not allow for femoral vein and IVC access. We had to figure out a different path—a combination of internal jugular and subclavian veins was used. Transseptal puncture was performed under transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) control with a puncture needle stiletto. Pulmonary veins were isolated successfully, no complications were observed, and the patient was discharged in sinus rhythm.

Discussion

In some patients, PVI cannot be done through the standard IVC approach. In such cases, a different venous access must be chosen. Our patient had a rare variant of interrupted IVC and we had to use superior vena cava approach for the procedure. The difficulty of this approach is that procedure instruments are not designed for non-standard venous access; however, a combined use of TOE, general anaesthesia, and contact force-guided ablation has succeeded in isolating patients’ pulmonary veins.

The Transjugular Approach: An Alternative Route to Improve Ablation Success in Right Anteriorly and Anterolaterally-Located Supraventricular Tachycardia Substrates in Children

Catheter ablation via the femoral vein has been widely used in children. However, in certain conditions, an alternative vascular access is required for a successful ablation. Herein we reported that, accessory pathways (APs) and ectopic foci which reside right anterior and anterolateral to tricuspid valve orifice can be safely and effectively ablated with transjugular venous approach. Eleven procedures performed via the transjugular venous approach were reviewed retrospectively from the 355 electrophysiological procedures performed between March 2016 and November 2017. EnSite 3D electro-anatomic mapping and limited flouroscopy was used in all patients. The mean age of patients was 14.4 ± 2.9 years (12-18) and 6/11 (54.5%) were males. Seven of the patients had previous ablation procedures via the femoral vein approach and due to failure or recurrence the procedures had to be repeated. In these patients mean procedure time shortened from 196 ± 80 (105-280) to 111 ± 13 (96-125) min with the transjugular approach. 10/11 patients had APs, and one patient had focal atrial tachycardia. One of the APs was a Mahaim pathway. Ablation localisations were right anterior and right anterolateral in 8/11 and 3/11 patients respectively. The average fluoroscopy time was 3.38 ± 6.5 (0-15) min. All of the RF ablations via transjugular approach were successful (100%, 11/11). The mean follow-up period was 10.6 ± 1.1 (9-12) months. So far no recurrence has been observed. Right anterior and anterolateral regions are the most challenging areas in terms of catheter stabilization even when long sheaths are used during femoral route ablation. Ablation attempts in these regions have partial success, frequent recurrence, and high complication rates. This study revealed that transjugular approach seems as an effective alternative for those cases where transfemoral approach is unsuccessful for the ablation targets located in the right anterior and antero-lateral regions.

Trans-aortic pulmonary vein isolation using magnetic navigation system for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in a patient with dextrocardia, situs inversus, and inferior vena cava continuity with azygos vein

A 51-year-old male with dextrocardia and situs inversus underwent catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Because the procedure through the trans-septal approach was impossible due to the inferior vena cava continuity with azygos vein, we performed pulmonary vein isolation using magnetic navigation system through the retrograde trans-aortic approach. Superior and inferior left-sided and superior right-sided pulmonary veins could be isolated which was confirmed by the ablation catheter. The patient was free from atrial fibrillation episode at the 12 months follow-up except only one palpitation episode lasting nearly 12 hours at 9 months after the ablation.