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Handbook of Cardiac
Electrophysiology
Handbook of Cardiac
Electrophysiology
Second Edition
Edited by
Andrea Natale
Oussama M. Wazni
Kalyanam Shivkumar
Francis E. Marchlinski
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
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or health-care professionals and is provided strictly as a supplement to the medical or other professional’s
own judgement, their knowledge of the patient’s medical history, relevant manufacturer’s instructions
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Preface ix
Acknowledgments x
Editors xi
Contributors xiv
SECTION I
Basic EP Laboratory Setup and Equipment
SECTION II
Bradyarrhythmia
4 BRADYCARDIA 36
Shiv Bagga and Mandeep Bhargava
SECTION III
Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia
6 ATRIAL FLUTTER 68
Ayman A. Hussein and Oussama M. Wazni
7 ATRIAL FIBRILLATION 81
Rong Bai, Mohamed Salim, Luigi Di Biase, Robert Schweikert, and Walid Saliba
v
SECTION IV
Ventricular Tachyarrhythmia
SECTION V
Syncope
SECTION VI
Device Procedures
vi Contents
SECTION VII
Performing Basic EP Studies
SECTION VIII
Catheter Ablation Techniques
Contents vii
26 ARRHYTHMOGENIC RIGHT VENTRICULAR
CARDIOMYOPATHY 316
Daniele Muser and Pasquale Santangeli
INDEX 431
viii Contents
PREFACE
This issue of the Handbook of Electrophysiology is a quick reference for EP fellows, allied
health professionals, and electrophysiologists on the state-of-the-art management of rhythm
disorders including discussions on how to set up an arrhythmia lab, different aspects of
the catheter ablation procedure for atrial and ventricular arrhythmia, techniques of device
implantation and lead extraction, and diagnostic testing and management of syncope.
The current edition also addresses the different aspects of ECG-based origin of atrial flutter,
indications for epicardial access, and ECG characteristics of normal heart PVCs. Lastly, the
handbook details on the indications, techniques, and benefits of left atrial appendage closure.
It was our privilege to have a team of world-renowned experts contributing the latest infor-
mation on the entire spectrum of EP knowledge in this handbook. We are confident that this
handbook will not only be relevant to all clinicians and allied health professionals involved
in the management of cardiac arrhythmia, but also will provide the readers an appreciation
of the complexity of procedures that are performed every day in the electrophysiology labs.
ix
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I wish to thank all the authors and staff that worked very hard to make this book possible.
Additionally, I would like to thank my dearest wife Marina and daughters (Veronica and
Eleanora) for supporting me in all my professional endeavors.
Dr. Andrea Natale
x
EDITORS
xi
Dr. Kalyanam Shivkumaris a physician scientist who
serves as the director of the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia
Center & EP Programs (since its establishment in
2002). He is a graduate of the UCLA STAR Program
(class of 2000) and his field of specialization is inter-
ventional cardiac electrophysiology. He leads a large
group at UCLA (comprising a diverse group of fifteen
faculty members, several trainees, and sixty staff +
allied health professionals) involved in clinical care,
teaching, research, and biomedical innovation.
The team provides state of the art clinical care, has
developed several innovative therapies (e.g., epicardial
ablation, neuromodulation) for the non-pharmacological
management of cardiac arrhythmias and other cardiac interventions. The team has a major
focus on mechanistic research on the neural control of the mammalian heart. Dr. Shivkumar
also serves as the director and chief of the UCLA Cardiovascular Interventional Programs.
Dr. Shivkumar’s research work relates to mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias in humans
especially the role of the autonomic nervous system and his research work transcends the
perspective of a single organ and has implications for neurovisceral sciences in general.
The UCLA Neurocardiology Research Program of Excellence was established by him as the
specialized research arm of the Arrhythmia Center in 2014. Dr. Shivkumar and his colleagues
are actively involved in human mechanistic studies and development of new intellectual
property and medical technology for cardiovascular therapeutics. His IP has been incorpo-
rated into medical devices that are now FDA approved and in clinical use. He serves as an
editor for several journals in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology, and is a peer reviewer
for several basic science and clinical journals. He also serves as a peer reviewer for the NIH
in evaluating cardiac arrhythmia and neuroscience research. His research has been sup-
ported by grants from the American Heart Association, the Doris Duke Foundation, private
donors, and from the NIH (continuously since 2006). Currently Dr. Shivkumar oversees a
15-university NIH consortium on neural control of the heart. Dr. Shivkumar has mentored
several STAR awardees and has received several teaching awards. He has been appointed to
serve on the board of examiners for Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Section of the ABIM
(American Board of Internal Medicine). He has been elected to the membership of the
American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI) and serves as the institutional representa-
tive of UCLA for the ASCI. He was elected as an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of
Physicians (London) in 2016 and President of the ISAN (International Society of Autonomic
Neuroscience) in 2019.
xii Editors
ablation techniques for the treatment of both atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia
and optimize device therapy for treating heart failure and preventing sudden cardiac death.
Dr. Marchlinski has served on the International Heart Rhythm Society Committee to estab-
lish guidelines for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia using cath-
eter ablation techniques. He has been the recipient of the Luigi Mastroianni Clinical
Innovator Award, the Venice Arrhythmia Distinguished Scientist Award and the ACTS
Distinguished Investigator Award—Career Achievement—Translation from Early Clinical
Use to Applicability for Widespread Clinical Practice. Dr. Marchlinski is on the editorial
board of Circulation, Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology, American Journal of Cardiology,
Heart Rhythm Journal, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Journal of Interventional
Cardiac Electrophysiology, and JACC-Electrophysiology and is the Arrhythmia Section Editor
for Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Marchlinski has organized and directed
multiple fellowship training courses and regional and International EP symposia and has
received numerous teaching awards at the University of Pennsylvania.
Editors xiii
CONTRIBUTORS
xvi Contributors
Chintan Trivedi Oussama M. Wazni
Department of Electrophysiology Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacemaker
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute Laboratories
Austin, Texas Heart and Vascular Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Roderick Tung Cleveland, Ohio
Center for Arrhythmia Care
Pritzker School of Medicine Bruce L. Wilkoff
The University of Chicago Medicine Department of Electrophysiology
Chicago, Illinois Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of
Medicine
Marmar Vaseghi Case Western Reserve University
UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center Cleveland, Ohio
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, California
Contributors xvii
Section I
BASIC EP LABORATORY
SETUP AND EQUIPMENT
1
CONTENTS
EP Lab 2
Device Procedures 2
References 5
The modern EP Laboratory caters to two general categories of diagnostic and interven-
tional procedures. They can be classified as either ablation or device related. Ablation pro-
cedures are more involved and may require more equipment and time than device-related
procedures. It is the purpose of Section II to encompass the whole spectrum when it comes
to preparing the environment so as it is conducive to any of these general categories of
procedures.
EP LAB
The EP Lab should be constructed following the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) (http://
www.fgiguidelines.org/). The typical EP laboratory design has used the Cath Lab design
settings for years but there needs to be a separate distinction due to the fact that the EP
Laboratory houses more equipment and is sensitive to a different need that concentrates in the
matter of interpreting clean electrical signals as opposed to pressures and h emodynamics.1
The environment has also evolved to be able to accommodate emergent responses that may
require cardiothoracic surgical interventions and general anesthesia services, which make
it necessary for the environment to have adequate heat, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) standards appropriate for operating room procedures.
It is ideal for the room to be considered as a wet location, which mandates the use of an
isolated power system with line isolation monitoring.2 This panel’s purpose is to ensure that
electrocution hazards are kept at a very minimum. A secondary benefit is that it also serves
as a filter mechanism that can provide clean power to equipment, which helps reduce electri-
cal noise due to the 60 Hz frequency of alternating current (AC). This shields the room from
conducting noise from the main power source but consideration should be taken to trouble-
shoot equipment that may generate noise from within the room that can conduct to other
equipment plugged in the same branch circuit.
DEVICE PROCEDURES
There have been many advances in cardiac implantable electrical devices (CIEDs), includ-
ing pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization devices,
and implantable loop recorders. Newer models are capable of handling more sophisticated
algorithms, they have more data storage capacity, and they are compact and now capable of
interfacing wirelessly. This provides a new challenge and becomes an impetus for change
in the ways that we traditionally pull paraphernalia needed in the procedure. Changes in
interfaces can also create inadvertent issues that create problems between device commu-
nications. As technology advances, procedural considerations and need dynamically evolve
and should be expected.
The equipment needed for CIED Implantation include:
• X-ray system
• EP recording system
• Defibrillator
• Device specific programmer
• Signal analyzer (usually a function provided by the device specific programmer)
• Electrocautery
• Temporary pacemaker
• Ultrasound (for emergent transthoracic scan and vascular access if needed)
• Suction apparatus (typically available as a wall source in procedural areas)
• Operating room instruments
• Open chest and emergency carts
X-RAY SYSTEM
The patient table should be radiolucent and freely movable to allow fluoroscopy from the
patient’s neck to groin. Ample space is necessary on the left and right side as well as the head
of the bed, where personnel can monitor vital signs, oxygen saturation, patient status, and
conscious sedation. Complex cases, such as device extractions or extractions with contra-
lateral re-implants, may require space for bilateral pectoral, groin, or neck vascular access
for a temporary pacer wire or arterial access for invasive blood pressure monitoring. It is
helpful for a table to have options for Trendelenberg and reverse Trendelenberg positioning,
although foam wedges may be placed under the legs to facilitate venous return during venous
access or under the head for patients unable to lay flat.
Fluoroscopy remains essential to optimal lead placement. The fluoroscopy source can
be either portable or fixed and should be maneuverable in oblique and lateral views.
Maneuverability is important for obtaining access, venograms, and lead positioning. An
option for magnification is used to visualize extension and retraction of the lead screw.
The ability to record cine loops is helpful for guidance of vascular insertion and lead place-
ment (e.g., coronary sinus venogram), as well as for teaching purposes. Cinefluoroscopy is
the most commonly used recording mode, with some machines having the option to record
loops from fluoroscopy.
Consideration should also be given to selectable default radiation dose exposure settings for
procedures. While it is more a user preference, EP staff responsible for monitoring radiation
exposure during procedures can opt to configure lower dose settings commensurate to pre-
ferred image quality with the equipment manufacturer engineers. This is preferably done during
equipment installation but can be revisited upon request. Caution should be taken to include
all members of the clinical team for approval to make it standard for their particular practice.
display the PSA or device programmer screens alongside the EP Recording system and X-Ray
displays to the implanting physician.
ELECTROCAUTERY
The use of electrocautery is essential for cutting through the dermal layers and also coagulat-
ing the vascularized tissue when creating a pocket for the device. While it has its advantages
to scalpels to prevent nicks on lead insulation, strong electromagnetic interference (EMI)
can be generated that has the potential to temporarily stun or damage device electronics.3
This can be catastrophic in patients who are pacemaker dependent during device replace-
ments. In some instances it may be advisable to insert a temporary pacing lead in patients
who are pacemaker dependent, or to minimize cautery until leads can be secured for pacing.
Temporary pacing should be available and ready for immediate activation, if needed.
Figure 1.1 Example of a basic kit of instrument sets used and standardized on all implantable
cardiac device procedures in an EP Lab setting.
In-room stocking or easy availability of single-use items adds to convenience during the
procedure. Items that are used during device implantation include scalpels, absorbable and
non-absorbable suture, splittable vascular sheaths, the implanted leads and device, stylets,
sterile programming wand covers, drape clips, sterile fluoroscopy cover, and often steerable
mapping catheters.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCE
There is also a recent document that was released by the Heart Rhythm Society that was
created by a consensus of experts who aim to provide a standard framework for Cardiac
Electrophysiology Labs in general. This document is entitled “2013 HRS Expert Consensus
Statement on Electrophysiology (EP) Lab Standards: Process, Protocols, Equipment,
Personnel and Safety” and is available for public download at http://www.hrsonline.org/
Practice-Guidance/Clinical-Guidelines-Documents/2013-Electrophysiology-EP-Lab-
Standards-Process-Protocols-Equipment-Personnel-and-Safety#axzz3AklrR1h7.
REFERENCES
1. Haines, D., Beheiry, S., Akar, J., et al. (2014, May 8). Heart Rhythm Society. Retrieved
May 26, 2015, from Heart Rhythm Society: http://www.hrsonline.org/Practice-
Guidance/Clinical-Guidelines-Documents/2013-Electrophysiolog y-EP-Lab-
Standards-Process-Protocols-Equipment-Personnel-and-Safety#axzz3AklrR1h7.
2. Earley, M.W., Sargent, J.S., Sheehan, J.V., & Buss, E.W. (Eds.) (2008). NEC 2008
Handbook. (pp. Article 517, Part VII). Quiny, MA: National Fire Protection Association.
3. Abdelmalak, B., Jagannathan, N., Arain, F., et al. (2011). Electromagnetic interference
in a cardiac pacemaker during cauterization with the coagulating, not cutting mode.
J. Anaesthesiol. Clin. Pharmacol., 27(4), 527–530.
CONTENTS
Figure 2.1 Mounted monitor with various displays, including fluoroscopy, electrophysiologic
mapping system, real-time electrocardiograms.
the EP lab as compared to catheterization laboratories. These settings are typically done
individually for each laboratories to physician’s specification.
• Vital signs monitoring should be performed on independent equipment so that monitor-
ing may continue if the data acquisition system fails. A cardioverter/defibrillator may
be used for monitoring rhythm, and combined modality devices may be used to moni-
tor vital signs. Through the defibrillation pads and ECG leads, several lead configura-
tions can typically be viewed separately from the physiologic recorder. Additionally,
non-invasive measurements of blood pressure and pulse oximetry can be followed.
Capnography is of particular benefit in procedures with moderate sedation for a pro-
longed period of time. This also reduces over-dosing sedative and narcotic usage which
may result in adverse events. Esophageal thermister probe allows monitoring of esopha-
geal temperature for ablation performed along the posterior wall of the left atrium to
avoid risk of atrial-esophageal fistula.
• The data acquisition system includes the physiologic recorder which displays and stores
surface and intracardiac electrograms. The equipment console consists of this system
as well as a slave monitor for radiographic images and an electrophysiologic stimulator.
Input signals are displayed on computer screens and stored on archivable media, such
as optical disks.
Electrical safety must be ensured in the setup of the electrophysiology laboratory to reduce
the risk of current leakage to the patient which can precipitate ventricular arrhythmias.
Leaking of current should remain less than 10 mA.
JUNCTION BOX
The junction boxes receive the intracardiac signals from the catheters and provide an inter-
face into the physiologic recorder (Figure 2.2). Multiple switches within the junction box are
designated to a recording and stimulation channel which can be selected through the record-
ing apparatus. The junction boxes are mounted at the foot of the patient table and connected
to the physiologic recorder, which is kept as close as possible. This helps to minimize noise
on the channels as well as reduce floor clutter.
RECORDING APPARATUS
The physiologic recorder records, displays, and stores intracardiac and surface recordings.
It consists of filters, amplifiers, display screens, and recording software. From the junction
box, the physiologic signals are introduced into the recorder. These signals are typically
low in amplitude and require amplification prior to displaying and recording. The record-
ing system amplifies and filters each input channel separately, with most current systems
supporting up to 64 or more channels. The amplifiers have the ability to automatically or
manually adjust gain control. The amplifiers should be mounted as close to the patient
table as possible. This will reduce the cable length of the intracardiac connections and
surface ECGs, which minimizes the signal noise. The amplifier is then connected to the
main physiologic recorder through a floor channel, which, ideally, should run separately
from electric power cables. Filters are used to eliminate unnecessary signals that distort
electrograms (EGMs). High pass filters eliminate signals below a given frequency and low
pass filters eliminate signals above a given frequency. Most intracardiac electrograms are
clearly identified when the signal is filtered between a high pass of 40 Hz and a low pass of
500 Hz. Several pages can be simultaneously recorded and one of these typically includes
a 12-lead ECG. The page displayed during studies typically shows several intracardiac
electrograms with 3–4 surface ECG leads which allows for axis determination, activation
timing, and P/QRS morphology (Figure 2.3). Pressure channels, if used, allow for simulta-
neous hemodynamic monitoring.
STIMULATOR
A programmable stimulator is necessary to obtain electrophysiologic data beyond measure-
ments of conduction intervals. Stimulators are capable of various modes of pacing, including
rapid pacing, delivery of single or multiple extra stimuli following a paced drive train, and
delivery of timed extra stimuli following sensed beats. Stimulators should be capable of
delivering variable currents, ranging from 0.1 to 20 mA. With satisfactory positioning of
catheters, current thresholds under 2 mA (with 2 ms pulse width) can usually be achieved in
both the atrium and ventricle. Higher outputs are seen with diseased myocardium, within
the coronary sinus, and with the use of anti-arrhythmic medications. Output is usually set
at twice the diastolic threshold. Most stimulators have the ability to pace through more than
one channel; however, one channel generally suffices for all studies unless dual chamber pac-
ing is required.
CARDIOVERTER/DEFIBRILLATOR
A primary and back-up cardioverter/defibrillator should be available throughout all EP
studies (Figure 2.4). Current defibrillators deliver energy in a biphasic waveform which
offers enhanced defibrillation success. Defibrillation pads are attached to the patient
and electrically grounded. In our laboratory, the defibrillator and energy delivered by
RFA share a common ground patch on the patient which connects through the Booker
box. ECGs can be recorded through the defibrillation pads separate from the data acquisi-
tion system. 2,3
RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION
Radiofrequency ablation uses alternating current delivered between the catheter tip and
grounding source to deliver energy to tissue, resulting in necrosis. Radiofrequency genera-
tors deliver current with a frequency between 300 and 750 kHz, with generation of heat
occurring as a result of resistive and conductive heating. Monitoring of time, power, and
impedance is necessary to ensure safe and effective ablation lesions. The new SmartAblate
system comes with a generator, system pump, and remote control, is an integrated platform
which streamlines the ablation procedure in an electrophysiology laboratory. Through the
generator, limits on impedance and temperature are programmed and the desired power
level is set (Figure 2.5).
Author: Various
Language: English