Published online before print December 9, 2002, doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000047065.49852.8F
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(Circulation. 2003;107:21.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.
Brief Rapid Communications |
Pulmonary Vein Ostium Geometry
Analysis by Magnetic Resonance Angiography
From the Department of Cardiology, Heart Lung Center Utrecht (F.H.M.W., R.D., P.L., E.F.D.W., L.V.A.B., B.J.R., M.-J.C.), and Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht (E.-J.V., B.V.), Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Correspondence to Fred Wittkampf, University Medical Center E03-406, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail fredwittkampf{at}mac.com
Background— During a catheter ablation procedure for selective electrical isolation of pulmonary vein (PV) ostia, the size of these ostia is usually estimated using fluoroscopic angiography. This measurement may be misleading, however, because only the projected supero/inferior ostium diameters can be measured. In this study, we analyzed 3-dimensional magnetic resonance angiographic (MRA) images to measure the minimal and maximal cross-sectional diameter of PV ostia in relation to the diameter that would have been projected on fluoroscopic angiograms during a catheter ablation procedure.
Methods and Results— In 42 patients with idiopathic atrial fibrillation who were scheduled for selective electrical isolation of PV ostia, the minimal and maximal diameters of these ostia were measured from 3-dimensional MRA images. Thereafter, these images were oriented in a 45° right or left anterior oblique direction and the projected diameter of the PV ostia were measured again. The average ratio between maximal and minimal diameter was 1.5±0.4 for the left and 1.2±0.1 for the right pulmonary vein ostia. Because of the orientation and oval shape of especially the left pulmonary vein ostia, their minimal diameters were significantly smaller than the projected diameters.
Conclusion— Pulmonary vein ostia, especially those at the left, are oval with the short axis oriented approximately in the antero/posterior direction. Consequently, PV ostia may sometimes be very narrow despite a rather normal appearance on angiographic images obtained during a catheter ablation procedure.
Key Words: fibrillation • atrium • veins • magnetic resonance imaging • catheter ablation
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