The Advanced Application of Intracardiac Echocardiography for Cardiac Electrophysiology Ablation Procedures.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The advanced use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is both a significant leap forward and an underutilized and unrealized innovation for electrophysiological (EP) procedures [1]. ICE can inform operators of complex anatomic heterogeneity as well as close anatomic relationships beyond fluoroscopy and even electroanatomic mapping. We will review the myriad advantages of advanced ICE application to EP ablation procedures.

RECENT FINDINGS

While 3D mapping has significantly advanced diagnosis and treatment efficiency for ablation procedures quite rapidly, widespread adoption of advanced ICE techniques beyond a supplemental technology has not been as swift. The advanced application of ICE has the ability to vastly improve the safety of EP procedures while reducing or eliminating required fluoroscopic guidance in many aspects [2]. The advanced application of ICE offers many opportunities to improve procedural efficacy and safety. Further research should focus on quantifying these benefits and understanding how best to disseminate these techniques for broader electrophysiological practice.