Histopathologic changes in the heart including the conduction system after catheter ablation. 1989

S Bharati, and M Lev
Heart Institute for Children of Christ Hospital and Medical Center, Palos Heights, Illinois 60463.

The pathology of the heart, including that of the conduction system, after various catheter techniques used to ablate the various parts of the conduction system and the myocardium, were examined histologically by serial sections. The experiments were conducted on canines. The conduction system studies included the approaches to the AV node, the AV node, the AV bundle and bundle branches, as well as, the central fibrous body, the tricuspid, mitral and aortic valves. The methods of ablation were DC shock, laser and radio frequency energy. Production of the complete AV block clinically was associated with fibrosis with or without cartilage formation of the approaches to the AV node, the AV node, the bundle and the beginning of the bundle branches in most cases. On the other hand, creation of first degree AV block was associated with fibrotic changes in the approaches to the AV node and the AV node, and second degree block with more changes to the AV node. Coronary sinus ablation resulted in necrosis and fibrosis of the coronary sinus wall with occasional thrombosis of the coronary sinus. The adjacent atrial and/or the ventricular myocardium also showed fibrosis. Likewise, ventricular septal ablation was associated with focal areas of fibrosis of the myocardium. The conduction system was intact in both of the above experiments. In one human where complete AV block was created to manage intractable atrial fibrillation, the AV node, the bundle, and the bundle branches were fibrosed. In addition, there was a fibrosed atrio-Hisian connection and the patient died suddenly six weeks after the ablative procedure. The surrounding structures close to the vicinity of the conduction system, such as the aortic, tricuspid, mitral valve, the central fibrous body, and the summit ventricular septum are involved to a varying degree. In summary, (1) Whatever the method of ablation may be, the end result was fibrosis with or without cartilage formation of the ablative area. (2) Congenital anomalies of the conduction system such as an atrio-Hisian connection may remain elusive for ablative methods, and arrhythmias may persist and may cause sudden death in some cases.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007834 Lasers An optical source that emits photons in a coherent beam. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (LASER) is brought about using devices that transform light of varying frequencies into a single intense, nearly nondivergent beam of monochromatic radiation. Lasers operate in the infrared, visible, ultraviolet, or X-ray regions of the spectrum. Masers,Continuous Wave Lasers,Pulsed Lasers,Q-Switched Lasers,Continuous Wave Laser,Laser,Laser, Continuous Wave,Laser, Pulsed,Laser, Q-Switched,Lasers, Continuous Wave,Lasers, Pulsed,Lasers, Q-Switched,Maser,Pulsed Laser,Q Switched Lasers,Q-Switched Laser
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009206 Myocardium The muscle tissue of the HEART. It is composed of striated, involuntary muscle cells (MYOCYTES, CARDIAC) connected to form the contractile pump to generate blood flow. Muscle, Cardiac,Muscle, Heart,Cardiac Muscle,Myocardia,Cardiac Muscles,Heart Muscle,Heart Muscles,Muscles, Cardiac,Muscles, Heart
D004285 Dogs The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065) Canis familiaris,Dog
D004564 Electrocoagulation Procedures using an electrically heated wire or scalpel to treat hemorrhage (e.g., bleeding ulcers) and to ablate tumors, mucosal lesions, and refractory arrhythmias. It is different from ELECTROSURGERY which is used more for cutting tissue than destroying and in which the patient is part of the electric circuit. Diathermy, Surgical,Electrocautery,Endocavitary Fulguration,Galvanocautery,Surgical Diathermy,Thermocoagulation,Fulguration, Endocavitary
D005260 Female Females
D005355 Fibrosis Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury. Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D006327 Heart Block Impaired conduction of cardiac impulse that can occur anywhere along the conduction pathway, such as between the SINOATRIAL NODE and the right atrium (SA block) or between atria and ventricles (AV block). Heart blocks can be classified by the duration, frequency, or completeness of conduction block. Reversibility depends on the degree of structural or functional defects. Auriculo-Ventricular Dissociation,A-V Dissociation,Atrioventricular Dissociation,A V Dissociation,A-V Dissociations,Atrioventricular Dissociations,Auriculo Ventricular Dissociation,Auriculo-Ventricular Dissociations,Block, Heart,Blocks, Heart,Dissociation, A-V,Dissociation, Atrioventricular,Dissociation, Auriculo-Ventricular,Dissociations, A-V,Dissociations, Atrioventricular,Dissociations, Auriculo-Ventricular,Heart Blocks
D006329 Heart Conduction System An impulse-conducting system composed of modified cardiac muscle, having the power of spontaneous rhythmicity and conduction more highly developed than the rest of the heart. Conduction System, Heart,Conduction Systems, Heart,Heart Conduction Systems,System, Heart Conduction,Systems, Heart Conduction
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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