Visualizing induced silent steam pop with intracardiac echocardiography

A piglet underwent aggressively endocardial radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) (FlexAbilityTM; St Jude Medical). RFCA was applied in the left ventricle. An intracardiac echocardiography catheter (ViewFlexTM, Xtra ICE Catheter; St Jude Medical) was inserted in the right ventricle (PanelA). Formation of focal microbubbles was observed before steam pop initiation. After 44 s from initiation of RFCA, a silent steam explosion occurred. Explosive microbubbles were clearly observed. The impedance tracing was not remarkable. The endocardial damage caused by this induced steam pop was a void 15  mm in diameter and 8 mm in depth (PanelB). However, cardiac tamponade was not observed.

Source: Europace - April 18, 2017 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research