Imaging technique and clinical utility for electrophysiologic procedures of lower frequency (9 MHz) intracardiac echocardiograph

Intracardiac echocardiography using a new 9-MHz ultrasound catheter was per formed in 30 patients undergoing percutaneous catheter mapping and radiofre quency ablation of a tachyarrhythmia, because the imaging capabilities with this intracardiac echocardiographic catheter permit detailed identificatio n of normal and abnormal cardiac anatomy with improved imaging depth. Intra cardiac echocardiography is of significant clinical utility during ablation for guiding interatrial septal puncture, assessing placement and contact o f mapping/ablation catheters, monitoring ablation lesion morphologic change s, and diagnosing procedure-related complications.