Cavotricuspid isthmus mapping to assess bidirectional block during common atrial flutter radiofrequency ablation

We sought to compare published methods to an alternative approach ascertaining cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) block during atrial flutter ablation.

In 39 consecutive patients who underwent an atrial flutter ablation procedure, a 24-pole mapping catheter was positioned so that 2 adjacent dipoles were bracketing the targeted CTI line of block (LOB), with proximal dipoles lateral to the LOB and distal dipoles in the coronary sinus. Two pacing sites were lateral (positions A and B) and 2 were septal (positions C and D) to the LOB, with locations A and D closest to the LOB. A resulting CTI block was accepted when 3 criteria were fulfilled: (1) complete reversal of the right atrial depolarization on the 24-pole catheter when pacing in the coronary sinus, (2) conduction delays from A to D greater than from B to D, and (3) conduction delays from D to A greater than from C to A. A successful CTI block was obtained in all patients. Before CTI block was obtained, a progressive CTI conduction delay was observed in 11 patients (28.2%). During the procedure, the 3 criteria defined above were either all present or all absent.

This study establishes that reversal of the atrial depolarization sequence up to the LOB is a definitive and mandatory criteria of successful atrial flutter ablation.