UNLABELLED: Pulmonary vein bigeminy is the pair of a second, late and ectopic pulmonary vein potential following atrial far-field activation and a first passive pulmonary vein potential during sinus rhythm. The aim of this study was to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of pulmonary vein bigeminy and to evaluate its relevance as a trigger for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pulmonary vein bigeminy was recorded in 8 of 45 patients (18%) who underwent mapping of pulmonary veins for ablation of focal atrial fibrillation. The premature ectopic pulmonary vein potentials were conducted to the atria in 5 patients and were not conducted (concealed bigeminy) in 3 patients. The coupling interval of the ectopic pulmonary vein potential to the preceding atrial signal during sinus rhythm was significantly longer in patients with conducted bigeminy (375 +/- 25 ms) than with concealed bigeminy (230 +/- 17 ms). The pulmonary vein bigeminy was driven by coronary sinus pacing with the pacing cycle length at lower stimulation rates and was suppressed by overdrive pacing. Coronary sinus pacing led to a separation of the first pulmonary vein potential from the atrial signal but the interval between the atrial signal and the second pulmonary vein potential remained unchanged. Focal ablation at the site of earliest ectopic pulmonary vein activity in 5 patients induced rapid repetitive firing before elimination of the pulmonary vein bigeminy. Ostial disconnection of the arrhythmogenic pulmonary vein in 3 patients was associated with elimination of the pulmonary vein bigeminy. During the follow-up of 9 +/- 5 months after ablation of the pulmonary vein bigeminy, 5 of the 8 patients (63%) were free of atrial fibrillation without antiarrhythmic medication. CONCLUSIONS: The response of pulmonary vein bigeminy to atrial pacing and ostial ablation suggests that pulmonary vein bigeminy depends on an intact electrophysiological breakthrough between the left atrium and the pulmonary vein. Ablation targeting the pulmonary vein bigeminy is a possible limited approach for this subgroup of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
UNLABELLED: Pulmonary vein bigeminy is the pair of a second, late and ectopic pulmonary vein potential following atrial far-field activation and a first passive pulmonary vein potential during sinus rhythm. The aim of this study was to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of pulmonary vein bigeminy and to evaluate its relevance as a trigger for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pulmonary vein bigeminy was recorded in 8 of 45 patients (18%) who underwent mapping of pulmonary veins for ablation of focal atrial fibrillation. The premature ectopic pulmonary vein potentials were conducted to the atria in 5 patients and were not conducted (concealed bigeminy) in 3 patients. The coupling interval of the ectopic pulmonary vein potential to the preceding atrial signal during sinus rhythm was significantly longer in patients with conducted bigeminy (375 +/- 25 ms) than with concealed bigeminy (230 +/- 17 ms). The pulmonary vein bigeminy was driven by coronary sinus pacing with the pacing cycle length at lower stimulation rates and was suppressed by overdrive pacing. Coronary sinus pacing led to a separation of the first pulmonary vein potential from the atrial signal but the interval between the atrial signal and the second pulmonary vein potential remained unchanged. Focal ablation at the site of earliest ectopic pulmonary vein activity in 5 patients induced rapid repetitive firing before elimination of the pulmonary vein bigeminy. Ostial disconnection of the arrhythmogenic pulmonary vein in 3 patients was associated with elimination of the pulmonary vein bigeminy. During the follow-up of 9 +/- 5 months after ablation of the pulmonary vein bigeminy, 5 of the 8 patients (63%) were free of atrial fibrillation without antiarrhythmic medication. CONCLUSIONS: The response of pulmonary vein bigeminy to atrial pacing and ostial ablation suggests that pulmonary vein bigeminy depends on an intact electrophysiological breakthrough between the left atrium and the pulmonary vein. Ablation targeting the pulmonary vein bigeminy is a possible limited approach for this subgroup of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Authors: Hiroshi Tada; Hakan Oral; Mehmet Ozaydin; Radmira Greenstein; Frank Pelosi; Bradley P Knight; S Adam Strickberger; Fred Morady Journal: J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol Date: 2002-01
Authors: S A Chen; M H Hsieh; C T Tai; C F Tsai; V S Prakash; W C Yu; T L Hsu; Y A Ding; M S Chang Journal: Circulation Date: 1999-11-02 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: M Haïssaguerre; P Jaïs; D C Shah; S Garrigue; A Takahashi; T Lavergne; M Hocini; J T Peng; R Roudaut; J Clémenty Journal: Circulation Date: 2000-03-28 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: S Ernst; M Schlüter; F Ouyang; A Khanedani; R Cappato; J Hebe; M Volkmer; M Antz; K H Kuck Journal: Circulation Date: 1999-11-16 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: M Haïssaguerre; D C Shah; P Jaïs; M Hocini; T Yamane; I Deisenhofer; M Chauvin; S Garrigue; J Clémenty Journal: Circulation Date: 2000-11-14 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: C Pappone; G Oreto; F Lamberti; G Vicedomini; M L Loricchio; S Shpun; M Rillo; M P Calabrò; A Conversano; S A Ben-Haim; R Cappato; S Chierchia Journal: Circulation Date: 1999-09-14 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Mélèze Hocini; Siew Y Ho; Tokuhiro Kawara; André C Linnenbank; Mark Potse; Dipen Shah; Pierre Jaïs; Michiel J Janse; Michel Haïssaguerre; Jacques M T De Bakker Journal: Circulation Date: 2002-05-21 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: M Haïssaguerre; P Jaïs; D C Shah; A Takahashi; M Hocini; G Quiniou; S Garrigue; A Le Mouroux; P Le Métayer; J Clémenty Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1998-09-03 Impact factor: 91.245