Mapping and ablation of anteroseptal atrial tachycardia in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: implication of pulmonary sinus cusps

Abstract

Aims: We sought to investigate focal atrial tachycardias (ATs) in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA).

Methods and results: We identified three cases of focal ATs with ccTGA from 2007 to 2015. The clinical findings, electrocardiography, electrophysiological features, and ablation were reported. All three cases had {S,L,L}-type ccTGA. The AT P waves shared the following features: narrow in width, positive in leads I and aVL, and negative/positive in lead V1. All ATs had focal activation pattern with early activation at the anteroseptal area, and further mapping demonstrated earliest atrial activation (EAA) inside the pulmonary sinus cusps (PSCs), especially the right PSC. In Cases 1 and 2, double potentials were recorded at the EAA sites. Conduction delay between the two potentials during atrial extrastimulus was observed. After successful ablation, the second potential during sinus rhythm was further delayed in Case 1 and was eliminated in Case 2. However, only one potential was recorded in Case 3. All three cases were successfully managed by ablating the sites with EAA, which preceded the P-wave onset by 60, 80, and 42 ms, respectively. During ablation, no junctional rhythm was observed. Incomplete left bundle branch block was induced during mapping in Case 1, but no other complications occurred. All patients were free from tachycardia during follow-up periods of 36, 7, and 5 months, respectively.

Conclusion: Anteroseptal AT in patients with ccTGA could be eliminated by ablation inside the PSC.

Keywords: Atrial tachycardia; Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries; Electroanatomical mapping; Pulmonary sinus cusp; Radiofrequency catheter ablation.