Historical Perspectives on Cardiac Mapping and Ablation

Cardiac mapping has evolved from single point-by-point registration of cardiac electrical activity to its utmost real-time multimodality of mapping and imaging for catheter ablation of arrhythmias. The technology began with electrocardiogram recordings and evolved to the simultaneous registration of depolarization and repolarization using optical mapping and real-time multimodality imaging. Zero to near-zero fluoroscopy is currently used in practice to avoid radiation exposure. Real-time noninvasive mapping, imaging, and ablation of arrhythmias are in use in practice. We present the contemporary up-to-date progress on the role of cardiac mapping and imaging in the diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias.