This article appears in the following Europace issue: Spotlight Issue: Cardiac Imaging in EP and CRT [View the issue table of contents]
IMAGING IN CATHETER ABLATION FOR AF
Introduction
The Europace Supplements, which are published in parallel with the main journal, contribute in a variety of ways to our mission: the promotion of the study of disturbances of cardiac rhythm and their treatments in order to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death and to improve the quality of life of those who suffer from cardiac arrhythmias.
The journal's Supplements have until now been identified mostly as publications that have presented the abstracts or the proceedings of congresses. With this issue, we inaugurate a new initiative: Spotlight Supplements.
In each of these issues, selected authors will cover a broad central topic from many sides, in high-quality articles, offering readers a state-of-the-art update that will contribute significantly to their continuing medical education.
Naturally, the central themes of the Spotlight Supplements will be selected by the editorial leadership of the journal, based on the priorities posed by constantly and rapidly changing circumstances.
The first issue in this publishing series was chosen to cover ‘Cardiac Imaging in Arrhythmias’. Cardiac imaging itself, within the broader spectrum of cardiology, has seen such unprecedented advances that cardiologists cannot help but take notice of its development. In the treatment of cardiac rhythm disturbances, modern technology has also undergone fantastic progress. For some time now, the mapping of arrhythmogenic regions has not been based solely on electrograms. Modern developments in electronic and computer sciences have permitted spectacular breakthroughs, contributing materially to a deeper understanding as well as to the more effective therapy of arrhythmias.
Especially in recent years, novel imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging and multi-slice computed tomography, have contributed significantly to a better understanding of cardiac anatomy and function. In addition, image fusion between electroanatomical mapping and magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography has enabled the integration of anatomy and electrophysiological function into an extremely useful image.
Cardiac imaging is particularly important in the evaluation and (catheter-based) treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation, and in the selection and follow-up of heart failure patients who are candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy. These two clinical topics are particularly addressed in this Spotlight Supplement issue. Emphasis is placed on the integration of imaging in the clinical management of patients, rather than providing detailed information on imaging itself. This is mainly where the strength of imaging lies: namely, in better diagnostic work-up and patient treatment.
We believe that this Spotlight Supplement issue, with the central thematic title ‘Imaging in Electrophysiology and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy’, offers good coverage of this broad and continuously developing field. The contributors, who were chosen on the basis of their long experience, present a wide range of different aspects of the topic, providing an opportunity for both more and less specialized colleagues to be fully informed. We thank the authors for their commendable efforts.
Now it remains for the readers to study the articles and form their own judgement of the new initiative that is launched with this issue.
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