Ventricular Epicardial Adipose Distribution on Human Hearts: 3-Dimensional Reconstructions and Quantitative Assessments

Epicardial interventions have forged new frontiers in cardiac ablation and device therapies. Healthy human hearts typically present with significant adipose tissue layers superficial to the ventricular myocardium and may hinder success or increase the complexities of epicardial interventions. We quantitatively evaluated the distribution of epicardial adipose tissue on the surface of human hearts and provided high-fidelity 3-dimensional reconstructions of these epicardial adipose tissue layers. The regional thickness of adipose tissues was analyzed at 51 anatomical reference points surrounding both ventricles and compared to specific patient demographics. Adipose deposits on the human hearts displayed characteristic patterns, with the thickest accumulations along the interventricular septa (anterior, 9.01 ± 0.50 mm; posterior, 6.78 ± 0.50 mm) and the right ventricular margin (7.44 ± 0.57 mm). We provide one of the most complete characterizations of human epicardial adipose location and relative layer thickness. These results are considered fundamental for an underlying anatomic understanding when performing procedures within the pericardial space.

Graphical Abstract

The relative thickness of epicardial adipose tissue was analyzed across 80 human hearts, with a subset displayed here as 3D reconstructions with thinner to thicker adipose regions indicated by a relative green-to-red color scale.