Electroanatomical Conduction Characteristics of Pig Myocardial Tissue Derived from High-Density Mapping

Area of Science:

• Electrophysiology
• Cardiac Anatomy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Ultra-high-density mapping systems enable precise cardiac measurements.
• Conduction velocities (CVs) and voltage amplitudes (VAs) are key electrophysiological parameters.
• Understanding normal CV and VA values is crucial for diagnosing cardiac abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish baseline unipolar CV and VA values in all four chambers and walls of healthy juvenile porcine hearts.
• To compare CV and VA across different heart chambers and walls using ultra-high-density mapping.
• To define normal electrophysiological parameters in a porcine model for potential translational research.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Rhythmia Mapping System for electroanatomical mapping of four porcine hearts in sinus rhythm.
• Calculated unipolar CVs and VAs for cardiac chambers and wall segments using 5 mm radius circular areas.
• Analyzed 21 high-resolution maps (1.4 points/mm²).

Main Results:

• Left atrium (LA) exhibited the highest CV, followed by left ventricle (LV), right ventricle (RV), and right atrium (RA).
• LV showed the highest VA, followed by RV, LA, and RA.
• Left chambers demonstrated higher overall CV and VA compared to right chambers. CV varied more within right chambers, while VA varied within ventricles.

Conclusions:

• Left heart chambers in healthy porcine models display greater CV and VA than right chambers.
• Significant variation in CV is observed within right chambers, whereas VA variation is confined to the ventricles.
• A positive linear correlation exists between slower CVs and lower VAs.