The epicardial needle allows us to gain access into the epicardial space (highlighted blue) between the epicardial membrane surrounding the heart and the outside surface of the heart.
Once the ablation catheter is in the epicardial space, we can map the entire outside surface of the heart.
Before we perform any ablation we check the ablation catheter is safely away from the coronary arteries and the phrenic nerves which also sit on the outside of the heart.
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