Abstract #0076

Wylie J, Essebag V, Josephson M, Botnar R, Hauser T, Kissinger K, Peters D, Manning W

The visualization of left atrium scar after RF ablation treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation would allow refinement of this treatment. We have developed a 3D high resolution delayed enhancement technique and applied it in 31 studies of patients before and/or after pulmonary vein isolation. Hyperenhancement of the left atrium and the pulmonary vein ostia was observed in 100% of good quality studies after ablation, and in 0% of good quality studies before ablation. Partial or complete circumferential ablation patterns could be detected, and a relationship between scar thickness and time since ablation was observed.