Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
3-Dimensional Transseptal Puncture Based on Electrographic Characteristics of Fossa Ovalis: A Fluoroscopy-Free and
Ronghui Yu1, Nian Liu1, Jun Lu2
1Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China.
Objectives:
This study sought to define electrographic characteristics of the fossa ovalis (FO) and use these findings in developing a 3-dimensional (3D) transseptal puncture (TSP) technique that does not rely on fluoroscopy or echocardiography.
Background:
Traditional TSP method based on fluoroscopy or echocardiography is basically a 2-dimensional (2D) technique. A valid 3D method of TSP has not been sufficiently clarified.
Methods:
The shape of the FO and its center were "electrographically" defined by comparing their potential characteristics to those of the surrounding limbus. After validation by intracardiac echocardiography, this FO mapping was incorporated into 3D electroanatomical reconstruction of the right atrium. Using a new catheter connection, the transseptal needle could be visualized nonfluoroscopically and directed to the precise localization of the FO on the electroanatomic map.
Results:
A total of 276 patients who underwent atrial fibrillation ablation were included. The central FO was identified in all cases with atrial electrogram voltage at 0.33 ± 0.21 mV. The amplitude of atrial potential at the FO annulus was 1.70 ± 0.72 mV (p < 0.001). By incorporating the electrographically defined FO into the 3D electroanatomic mapping and using the transseptal needle visualization approach, TSP was successful in all patients, with 91% of the cases at the first attempt. Atrial fibrillation ablation was completed in all patients with no major complication.
Conclusions:
Electrographic characteristics of the FO center are distinct from those of the surrounding regions. This information can be leveraged to define the FO on 3D electroanatomic mappings, thereby facilitating safe TSP without the need of ancillary imaging with fluoroscopy or echocardiography.
