Inadvertent isolation of a focal tachycardia within the superior vena cava

Abstract

The superior vena cava (SVC) is known to be a potential source of focal atrial tachycardias. Not uncommonly these tachycardias trigger atrial fibrillation or flutter. Focal ablation is safe and effective in eliminating arrhythmogenic foci within the SVC. We present the case of a patient with focal atrial tachycardia arising from the SVC. During presumably focal ablation inadvertent electrical isolation of the SVC from the right atrium was achieved, with restoration of sinus rhythm in the atria and persistence of the tachycardia within the SVC.

Share and Cite:

Stoyanov, M. and Shalganov, T. (2012) Inadvertent isolation of a focal tachycardia within the superior vena cava. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 2, 316-320. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2012.24050.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Chang, K.C., Lin, Y.C., Chen, J.Y., Chou, H.T. and Hung, J.S. (2001) Electrophysiological characteristics and radiofrequency ablation of focal atrial tachycardia originating from the superior vena cava. Japanese Circulation Journal, 65, 1034-1040. doi:10.1253/jcj.65.1034
[2] Tsai, C.F., Tai, C.T., Hsieh, M.H., Lin, W.S., Yu, W.C., Ueng, K.C., et al. (2000) Initiation of atrial fibrillation by ectopic beats originating from the superior vena cava: electrophysiological characteristics and results of radio-frequency ablation. Circulation, 102, 67-74. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.102.1.67
[3] Katsivas, A.G., Manolis, A.G., Vassilopoulos, Ch., Ioanidis, P., Giotopoulou, A. and Kyriakides, Z. (2004) Electroanatomical mapping of a right atrial tachycardia originating within the inferior vena cava. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, 45, 187-190. http://www.hellenicjcardiol.org/archive/full_text/2004/3/2004_3_187.pdf
[4] Liu, T.Y., Tai, C.T., Lee, P.C., Hsieh, M.H., Higa, S., Ding, Y.A., et al. (2003) Novel concept of atrial tachyarrhythmias originating from the superior vena cava: Insight from noncontact mapping. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 14, 533-539. doi:10.1046/j.1540-8167.2003.02473.x
[5] Nathan, H. and Eliakim M. (1966) The junction between the left atrium and the pulmonary veins: An anatomic study of human hearts. Circulation, 34, 412-422. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.34.3.412
[6] Ho, S.Y., Anderson, R.H. and Sánchez-Quintana, D. (2002) Gross structure of the atriums: More than an anatomic curiosity? Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, 25, 342-350. doi:10.1046/j.1460-9592.2002.00342.x
[7] Chen, S.A., Chiang, C.E., Yang, C.J., Cheng, C.C., Wu, T.J., Wang, S.P., et al. (1994) Sustained atrial tachycardia in adult patients: Electrophysiological characteristics, pharmacological response, possible mechanisms, and effects of radiofrequency ablation. Circulation, 90, 1262- 1278. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.90.3.1262

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.