Relationship between complex fractionated atrial electrogram patterns and different heart substrate configurations

Complex Fractionated Atrial Electrograms (CFAE) were identified as being symptomatic of reentrant activities. Signals recorded by an intracardiac catheter give an imprecise vision of the underlying phenomena that occur in the proarrhythmic substrate. In this study, phenomenological and ionic numerical models were used to simulate a small piece of the atrium substrate. The catheter measurement is also simulated numerically to take into account electrode particularities. Modifications were applied on the numerical substrate. Then stimulation scenarios were generated in the numerical substrate such as planar waves, stable or breaking spirals. Comparison between simulated and clinical electrograms showed common patterns.