First reported case of multielectrode mapping catheter delamination detected by intracardiac echocardiography during atrial fibrillation ablation

Electroanatomic mapping with multipolar catheters is common practice during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Although these catheters are generally safe, rare complications related to catheter integrity have been described. The use of multipolar mapping catheters may still be associated with specific risks, including thrombus formation, entrapment or injury of valvular structures, and potential mechanical failure because of their complex design with multiple splines and electrodes. We report a case in which intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) enabled early detection of a filamentous foreign body emerging from a PentaRay (Biosense Webster) mapping catheter, likely because of partial delamination of the spline covering.