Electroanatomical mapping of the right atrium during atrial tachycardia originating from right superior pulmonary vein: additional insights on differential diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Atrial tachycardia (AT) from the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) may mimic right atrial (RA)-AT due to its proximity to the superior vena cava (SVC) and the preferential connections between the left atrium and right atrium.
OBJECTIVE: RA electroanatomical mapping was performed and analyzed during RSPV-AT to differentiate it from RA-AT.
METHODS: Electroanatomical mapping of the RA was performed in 16 consecutive patients with RSPV-AT and eight consecutive patients with SVC-AT served as control group.
RESULTS: RA mapping revealed single breakthrough in six patients and double breakthroughs in 10 patients in the RSPV-AT group. The initial 10-ms atrial depolarization area averaged 4.3 ± 1.5 cm(2). None of the SVC-ATs exhibited double breakthrough sites with an initial 10-ms atrial depolarization area of 2.0 ± 0.6 cm(2) (P = 0.001). A cutoff value of activation area of initial 10 ms > 3.15 cm(2) was able to predict RSPV-AT with a sensitivity of 87.5% and a specificity of 100%. Preceding far-field RSPV potentials could be documented in the RA in six patients during RSPV-AT.
CONCLUSIONS: During RSPV-AT, diffused initial depolarization and one or two separated breakthrough sites consistent with the preferential connections as revealed by RA mapping could help rule out RA-AT and avoid unnecessary ablation at the RA. ©2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.