Translational anatomy of the left atrium and esophagus as relevant to the pulmonary vein antral isolation for atrial fibrillation

ConclusionsFor antral isolation the ablation lines are about 3  cm superior, 3.5 cm inferior and about 1 cm apart. The esophagus is ~ 12 mm away at the superior and ~ 7 mm away at the inferior ablation line. On the left ablation line this distance would diminish from 15 to 7 mm. The pulmonary ostial circumference is ~ 5 cm with muscle thickne ss varying from 0.7 to 4 mm. The left ostia need more ablative power as they have a 60% (1 mm) thicker muscle coat. Care should be taken while ablating round the left superior ostium as the esophagus lies 1–3 cm behind it in 90% of the cases.
Source: Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy - Category: Anatomy Source Type: research