In 1998 Professor Haïssaguerre and his colleagues made the initial observation in patients that triggering foci in or around the pulmonary veins initiate some types of atrial fibrillation. Since then it has become clear that atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachyarrhythmias can be initiated (and possibly maintained) by triggering foci in any of the thoracic veins. This concept is now one of the most current topics in electrophysiology, and while it is a topic of frequent discussion in the major cardiology and electrophysiology journals, Thoracic Vein Arrhythmias: Mechanisms and Treatment is the first state-of-the art multi-authored textbook that integrates the advances made in this rapidly developing new area of cardiac arrhythmias for the global community.Edited by Drs. Shih-Ann Chen, Michel Haïssaguerre, and Douglas P. Zipes, who are at the forefront of advances in this field of cardiology, and with contributions from authors representing an international array of authorities in their individual fields, this text will be an invaluable reference to students, basic scientists, and clinicians with an interest in any aspect of cardiac arrhythmia.* First textbook to provide comprehensive, critical and insightful review by leading experts in the exciting field of thoracic vein arrhythmias.* Contains review of the current status of thoracic vein arrhythmias, and speculation on how the new findings will impact on treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.* The chapters outline how progress is being made on several fronts ranging from basic mechanisms to invasive treatment for thoracic vein arrhythmias.

Part I History of Thoracic Vein Arrhythmias.1. History of Thoracic Vein Arrhythmias: Pulmonary Veins andVenae Cavae.2. The Ligament of Marshall.3. Coronary Sinus Electrophysiology and Arrhythmogenesis:Historical Developments..Part II Anatomy and Basic Electrophysiology of the ThoracicVeins.4. Anatomy of the Pulmonary Veins.5. Anatomy of Pulmonary Vein-Atrial Junction.6. Anatomy of the Vena Cava: An ElectrophysiologicalPerspective.7. Anatomy of the Coronary Sinus.8. Imaging of Cardiac and Thoracic Veins.9. Immunohistology of Thoracic Veins.10. Ionic Currents and Mechanisms of Ectopy from ThoracicVeins.11. Stretch-Related Atrial Remodelling: Role in the Genesis ofAtrial Fibrillation.12. High-Density Mapping of Thoracic Vein Arrhythmias.13. Optical Mapping of Thoracic Vein Arrhythmias.14. Effects of Electrical Stimulation of Autonomic Ganglia AtThoracic Veins.15. Maintenance of AF: Thoracic Vein or Atrial Substrate?..Part III Clinical Electrophysiology and Ablation Therapy ofThoracic Vein Atrial Fibrillation.16. Electrocardiographic Characteristics of AF Initiators fromthe Thoracic Veins.17. Mapping of Atrial Fibrillation Initiators From the ThoracicVeins.18. Autonomic Modulation of Thoracic Vein AF.19. Clinical Electrophysiology of Pulmonary Veins.20. Catheter Ablation of Pulmonary Vein Atrial Fibrillation:Circumferential Ablation..21. Catheter Ablation of Pulmonary Vein Atrial Fibrillation:Segmental and Limited Linear Ablation..22. Clinical Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation of AtrialFibrillation from Superior Vena Cava.23. Clinical Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation of AtrialFibrillation from the Ligament of Marshall.24. Clinical Electrophysiology and Catheter Ablation of theCoronary Sinus in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.25. Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Treatment of AtrialFibrillation in Patients with Structural Heart Disease.26. Role of Linear Ablation in Thoracic Vein AF.27. New Technologies for Catheter Isolation of PulmonaryVeins.28. Surgical Ablation of AF: Pulmonary Vein Isolation.Index