Journal of Electrocardiology
Volume 36, Issue 1 , Pages 53-57, January 2003

Characteristics of the electrical activity within the persistent left superior vena cava: Comparative view with reference to the ligament of Marshall☆

Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Tama-Nagayama Hospital, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

Article Outline

Abstract 

We sought to characterize the electrical activity within the persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC), which normally becomes the ligament of Marshall (LOM) that is known to be related to the genesis of atrial tachyarrhythmias. A 20-pole electrode catheter was used to record the entire activation sequence in the LSVC in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Electrical activity representing the musculature of the LSVC could be recorded up to a level as high as the pulmonary artery. Multiple electrical connections between the LSVC and left atrium were shown, and one of the connections exhibited unidirectional conduction block. It might be important to take into account the presence of multiple electrical connections when we consider the LOM as a target for radiofrequency catheter ablation or its role in clinical arrhythmias.

Keywords:  Persistent left superior vena cava, ligament of Marshall, electrical connection, atrial fibrillation, accessory pathway, catheter ablation

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☆ Reprint requests: Mitsunori Maruyama, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Tama-Nagayama Hospital, Nippon Medical School, 1-7-1 Nagayama, Tama-shi, Tokyo 206-8512, Japan.

PII: S0022-0736(02)30455-2

doi:10.1054/jelc.2003.50004

Journal of Electrocardiology
Volume 36, Issue 1 , Pages 53-57, January 2003

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