Endocardial-Epicardial Phase Mapping of Prolonged Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Recordings: High Prevalence of Dissociated Activation Patterns

BACKGROUND–Endocardial-epicardial dissociation (EED) and focal breakthroughs in humans with atrial fibrillation (AF) have been recently demonstrated using activation mapping of short 10-second AF segments. In the current study we used simultaneous endo-epi phase mapping to characterise endo-epi activation patterns on long segments of human persistent AF (PeAF). METHODS–Simultaneous intra-operative mapping of endo- and epicardial lateral RA wall was performed in patients with PeAF using two high-density grid catheters (16 electrodes, 3mm spacing). Filtered unipolar and bipolar electrograms (EGM’s) of continuous 2-min AF recordings and electrodes locations were exported for phase analyses. We defined EED as phase difference of ≥20ms between paired endo-epi electrodes. Wavefronts (WF) were classified as rotations, single WF (SWF), focal waves or disorganised activity as per standard criteria. Endo-Epi WF patterns were simultaneously compared on dynamic phase maps. Complex fractionated EGM’s were defined as bipolar EGM’s with ≥5 directional changes occupying at least 70% of sample duration. RESULTS–Fourteen patients with PeAF undergoing cardiac surgery were included. EED was seen in 50.3% of phase maps with significant temporal heterogeneity. Disorganised activity (Endo:41.3% vs Epi:46.8%, p=0.0194) and SWF (Endo:31.3% vs Epi:28.1%, p=0.129) were the dominant patterns. Transient rotations (Endo:22% vs Epi:19.2%, p=0.169; mean duration590±140ms) and non-sustained focal waves (Endo:1.2% vs Epi:1.6%, p=0.669) were also observed. Apparent transmural migration of rotational activations (n=6) from the epi- to the endocardium was seen in 2 patients. EGM fractionation was significantly higher in the epicardium than endocardium (61.2% vs 51.6%, p