Refining promising techniques for guiding catheter ablation to stop atrial fibrillation

Improving target identification for catheter ablation using dominant frequency and rotor analysis in human persistent atrial fibrillation using non-contact mapping

Nearly 1.3 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with Atrial fibrillation (AF), making it the most common heart rhythm disturbance. Symptoms include irregular heartbeats, light-headedness and fatigue, affecting people’s quality of life. It can also be dangerous because it significantly increases the risk of stroke. A treatment called catheter ablation applies heat or very cold temperatures to correct the ‘short circuits’ in the heart that cause AF. However, for people with continuous AF, it can be very difficult to pinpoint exactly the right sites in the heart for successful treatment. New techniques mapping electrical frequencies in the heart to identify the areas responsible for the initiation and maintenance of AF are showing promise. In this study, Professor Andre Ng and his team will refine those techniques to guide catheter ablation, making this procedure more targeted and offering hope of a more effective treatment for many people with persistent AF.