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Updated: May 8, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
[Catheter ablation of epicardial accessory pathway associated with coronary sinus musculature]
Wei-zhu Ju1, Ming-long Chen, Bing Yang
1Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Objective:
To report the single-center clinical experience of catheter ablation of epicardial accessory pathway associated with coronary sinus musculature.
Methods:
The data of 721 cases of left sided accessory pathway ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Ablation in the coronary sinus was performed in 17 (2.4 %) cases [11 males, mean age (37 ± 11) years].
Results:
Among the 17 cases, the accessory pathway was successfully ablated in middle cardiac vein and posterior lateral coronary sinus in 11 and 6 cases, respectively. Deverticulum of middle cardiac vein was seen in 2 cases. Mean time required to block the accessory pathway was (4.7 ± 2.7) s. An accessory pathway potential could be recorded at the target site in 10 out of 17 patients (59%). During a mean (21 ± 16) months follow up, only one patient experienced recurrence who was successfully cured by a second ablation session. No procedure related complication was reported.
Conclusion:
About 2.4% of left accessory pathway may have epicardial connection locating at middle cardiac vein or lateral part of the coronary sinus and require epicardial ablation. The epicardial ablation is safe and effective, warrants an excellent long-term results.
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