Background: Ethanol infusion into the vein of Marshall (Et-VOM) is a novel therapeutic treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, few studies have focused on the difference between AF and non-AF patients (presented other types of arrhythmias) regarding the characteristics of the vein of Marshall (VOM).
Objective: This study sought to investigate the incidence, morphology, and angiographic characteristics of the VOM.
Methods: Coronary sinus (CS) angiography was performed in all patients. The baseline, angiographic characteristics and measurements of VOM dimensions were compared between the AF and non-AF group.
Results: CS angiography was performed in 290 patients. The VOM detection rate was higher in the AF group than in the non-AF group (91.8% vs. 84.1%, p = 0.044). In the right anterior oblique (RAO) projection, AF patients had significant larger VOM ostium, CS ostium, and CS diameter at VOM ostium than non-AF patients (1.9 ± 0.9 vs. 1.7 ± 0.7 mm, p = 0.015; 12.8 ± 4.1 vs. 11.4 ± 3.7 mm, p = 0.016; 9.1 ± 3.1 vs. 8.2 ± 2.9 mm, p = 0.028, respectively). There was a slight linear correlation between the VOM ostium and the CS ostium diameter as well as left atrial volume (LAV).
Conclusion: AF patients seem to have a higher incidence of the VOM, larger VOM ostium, CS ostium, and CS lumen in RAO view. Meanwhile, the VOM ostium may correlate with the CS ostium and LAV.
Keywords: atrial fibrillation (AF); coronary sinus (CS); coronary sinus ostium (CSo); ethanol infusion; vein of Marshall (VOM).