A professor of medicine at Stanford University, Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan has led basic human heart rhythm disorder research in areas that were little studied. Extensively published in his field, Dr. Sanjiv M. Narayan coauthored “Identification and Characterization of Sites Where Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Is Terminated by Localized Ablation” (Circulation Arrhythmia Electrophysiology, 2018).
With atrial fibrillation (AF) characterized by irregularity of heartbeat and presenting a danger of blood-clot-related stroke, the study sought to increase knowledge of how persistent AF terminates when localized ablation is undertaken. Cardiac ablation involves the elimination or scarring of the heart tissue responsible for allowing incorrect electrical signals that activate the heart muscles in a way that results in abnormal heart rhythm.
A study hypothesis was that those sites at which localized ablation eliminates persistent AF have characteristics that can be identified through activation mapping when AF occurs. With 57 patients taking part in the study, complex analysis was undertaken that revealed repetitive rotational or focal activity patterns occurring at all sites in which AF termination occurred. Not all methods were equally effective at identifying these sites. The mechanism through which local ablation has this effect is described as needing further research.
