Combining Ionic Computer Models to Follow the Propagation of Electrical Activity of Atrial Fibrillation in the Left Atrium.

To better understand the propagation of electrical activity of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in the Left Atrium (LA), is essential for AF termination and treatment (catheter ablation). Components of 3 computing models were combined, they were: Fenton & Karma, Courtemanche et al. and Simitev-Biktashev. It aims to follow the spread of AF in simulation form in the LA and be generalisable, using a larger set of parameters, achieved by combining models. Potentially, enabling a degree of efficiency in trailing the propagation of AF in the LA in an individualised manner for each patient. Retrospective data from 10 subjects who underwent persistent AF (PersAF) ablation for the first time was placed over stimulation protocol of the amalgamated model on MATLAB.3D simulations on subject data were run creating virtual visualisation of the propagation and entropy of AF in the LA. Results were verified by determining singularly high dominant frequency (HDF) and phase analysis. Using code combining the 3 models on MATLAB retrieved 3D simulations for all 10 patients, with a success rate of propagation trailing of 79±5%. Propagation route coincided with HDF regions in 66% of patient data. Future research should involve developing the code into a standard subset to follow propagation of AF in real time during ablation procedures.