LAUSR

This catheter can also be used easily to assess bidirectional conduction block along a line of ablation. Introduction Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) remains the most important strategy for the management of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in the electrophysiology laboratory, with reconnections resulting in recurrences of AF or atrial tachycardia (AT). Conventionally assessment of conduction between the left atrium (LA) and the pulmonary veins (PVs) is performed using a circular multielectrode catheter positioned within the PV in which signals from the catheter are used to localize the approximate regions of conduction and pacing is performed from the catheter in order to assess for exit block. Although the use of these catheters has been shown to result in lower AF recurrence rates when compared with using only a radiofrequency (RF) catheter, the complexity and orientation of PV to LA may not always be accurately assessed, leading to the need for more RF energy delivery than may be required. Recently a high-definition mapping catheter has been introduced that has 16 equidistant electrodes (HD Grid Mapping Catheter Sensor Enabled, Abbott Technologies, Minneapolis, MN), which allows the rapid assessment of voltage, activation, and directionality of conduction. The unique grid pattern design and 3-3-3-mm spacing allows for bipolar recording along and across the splines, and the catheter is the first of its kind designed to facilitate substrate mapping and account for directionality. When used in conjunctionwith the PrecisionMapping System (Abbott Technologies), this catheter is designed to reduce variability in electrogram characteristics associatedwith differential orientations relative to the propagating wavefront. The Best Duplicate