Rotors in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation: case report of a left atrial appendage rotor identified by a novel computational mapping algorithm integrated into 3-dimensional mapping and termination of atrial fibrillation with ablation

Abstract

Recent clinical trials using panoramic mapping techniques have shown success in targeting rotors and focal impulses in atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablations directed toward these organized sources improve outcomes in AF. The left atrial appendage (LAA) has been suspected as a possible extrapulmonary source of AF, and ablation within the LAA or electrical isolation of the LAA improves outcomes in certain cases. This case highlights a unique example of panoramic imaging created with a computational mapping algorithm integrated in 3-dimensional mapping, which identified rotors within the LAA. Furthermore, ablations performed near an identified rotor core within the LAA terminated AF.

Keywords: Ablation; Left atrial appendage; Panoramic AF mapping; Persistent atrial fibrillation.