Characterizing Ventricular Anatomy and Developing Electrical Recording Systems for the Study of Ventricular Arrhythmias

Abstract

Ventricular arrhythmias are serious cardiac conditions that if left untreated, can result in sudden cardiac death. While patient outcomes have improved with the use of anti-arrhythmic drugs and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), significant challenges still remain for improving patients’ quality of life and freedom from arrhythmia recurrences. Over the last few decades, catheter ablations have become established, reliable procedures for the termination and sometimes curative elimination of cardiac arrhythmias. Nevertheless, it is important for both physicians and medical device designers to critically understand the broad ranges of cardiac anatomies for this ever-growing patient population. Human cardiac ventricular anatomy is significantly more complex than depicted in anatomical educational materials. Additionally, there is a need for studies of the role of ventricular anatomy in the electrical activity recorded in clinical mapping and ablation procedures. Through isolated heart studies, both formalin-fixed and reanimations on the Visible Heart® apparatus, the ventricular anatomy and its effects on electrophysiology are studied and described. This work advances physician understanding of ventricular anatomy, both endocardial and epicardial, as it relates to ventricular mapping and ablation procedures. This in turn can lead to improvements in procedural outcomes and overall patient care for those with ventricular arrhythmias. Understanding the complexity of the ventricular anatomy and electrophysiology is essential to designing, improving, and utilizing the tools needed for successful ventricular mapping and ablation procedures.