Ablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia with a prolonged PR interval during sinus rhythm: the risk of delayed higher-degree atrioventricular block

Introduction: Delayed higher‐degree atrioventricular (AV) block can develop after slow pathway ablation for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia with a preexisting first‐degree AV block. Retrograde fast pathway ablation is considered as an alternative approach for patients with a markedly prolonged PR interval and no demonstrable anterograde fast pathway function at baseline. This study aimed to determine the long‐term reliability of AV conduction after retrograde fast pathway ablation in comparison to slow pathway ablation in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and a first‐degree AV block at baseline. Methods and Results: Among 43 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval (defined as ≥200 msec), 10 patients without demonstrable dual pathway physiology underwent ablation of the retrograde fast pathway, and 33 patients with dual pathway physiology underwent slow pathway ablation. Persisting intraprocedural second‐ or third‐degree AV block requiring pacemaker implantation occurred in one patient (10%) after retrograde fast pathway ablation and in one patient (3%) after slow pathway ablation. During the long‐term follow‐up of 61 ± 39 months after retrograde fast pathway ablation, no delayed second‐ or third‐degree AV block occurred, and the PR interval remained unchanged (308 ± 60 msec vs 304 ± 52 msec) . During the follow‐up of 37 ± 25 months after slow pathway ablation, a delayed complete heart block developed in two patients, and a second‐degree AV block developed in two patients. Three patients aged 66, 75, and 76 years died suddenly of unknown cause 4, 16, and 48 months following slow pathway ablation, respectively. Conclusions: Slow pathway ablation was associated with a significant risk of a delayed higher‐degree AV block in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval at baseline. Retrograde fast pathway ablation for patients with a first‐degree AV block and no demonstrable dual pathway physiology was associated with a higher intraprocedural risk of complete AV block but did not result in the development of higher‐degree AV block during the long‐term follow‐up of up to 9 years.     

Fast pathway ablation in patients with common atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and prolonged PR interval during sinus rhythm

Aims This study aimed to clarify the safety and efficacy of selectivefast pathway ablation in patients with atrio-ventricular nodalreentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval during sinusrhythm. Such patients have been reported to have an increasedincidence of complete atrioventricular block. Methods and Results In this study, the earliest retrograde atrial activation duringatrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and right ventricularstimulation was localized. Fast pathway ablation was then performedin five patients with the common form of atrioventricular nodalreentrant tachycardia and a prolonged PR interval. Three ofthe five patients had almost incessant atrioventricular nodalre-entrant tachycardia. Radiofrequency catheter ablation induceda complete ventriculo-atrial block during right ventricularstimulation in four patients and a marked prolongation of ventriculo-atrialconduction during right ventricular stimulation in one. Non-inducibilityof common atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia withand without isoproterenol was achieved in all five patients.The PR interval increased from 254±53ms to 276±48msand the atrio-His interval from 172±46ms to 192±45ms.Second- or third-degree atrioventricular block did not occurduring the ablation procedure. During the follow-up of 19±20months none of the patients developed symptoms suggestive ofatrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia or evidence ofsecond- or third-degree atrioventricular block. Conclusion These data suggest that atrioventricular node (retrograde) fastpathway ablation can apparently be safely performed in patientswith common atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia anda prolonged PR interval during sinus rhythm.     

Acute coronary artery stenosis during slow pathway ablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in a child

Coronary injury during radiofrequency ablation is a rare but n. potentially life-threatening complication that has been reported for attempted elimination of accessory pathways. This is the first report of coronary artery injury during slow pathway ablation for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. Manifest signs of injury may be transient or nonexistent and easily missed. Controlled studies are needed to determine the true risk of coronary artery injury during radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia, particularly in small children.     

Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics in patients with atrioventricular reentrant and atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

AIM: To compare clinical, electrophysiological characteristics and transcatheter ablation results between two groups of patients, one with atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) and the other with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODS: The study population consisted of 94 consecutive patients who underwent endocavitary electrophysiological study and radiofrequency (RF) ablation: 46 patients had AVRT due to an accessory pathway with only retrograde conduction while 48 patients had AVNRT. RESULTS: In relation to general and clinical characteristics, differences between the two groups emerged regarding the age of symptom onset (25+/-16 vs 37+/-17 years, p=0.001), the prevalence of heart disease (8 vs 31%, p=0.001) and the correct diagnosis on surface ECG (50 vs 79%, p=0.001). Clinical presentation was quite similar apart from a higher prevalence of fatigue and sweating in the AVNRT group. Transcatheter RF ablation therapy results were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AVRT have a lower mean age at arrhythmia symptom onset compared with those with AVNRT and have fewer associated cardiac abnormalities. Clinical presentation is quite similar as well as their outcome after ablation. A correct diagnosis by standard ECG is more frequent in AVNRT.     

Anterograde slow pathway is not the same as retrograde slow pathway conducted in the reverse direction in patients with uncommon atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to examine the location of anterograde and retrograde slow pathways in 16 patients with uncommon atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), including the fast-slow form in 10, slow-slow form in 5, and both fast-slow and slow-slow forms in 1. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups according to the approach used for slow pathway ablation in the initial radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA): one approach used earliest atrial activation during tachycardia (ES group, n = 9), and the other used a slow potential during sinus rhythm (SP group, n = 7). When the initial RFCA failed to eliminate slow pathway conduction in the ES group, an additional RFCA guided by a slow potential was performed. The ratio of lengths from the His-bundle region to the RFCA site and coronary sinus ostium (Abl/His-CS ratio) and the ratio of amplitudes of atrial and ventricular potentials at the RFCA site (A/V ratio) were compared between the two groups. In the initial RFCA, retrograde slow pathway conduction was eliminated without impairment of anterograde slow pathway conduction in 8 (89%) patients from the ES group, and bidirectional slow pathway conduction was eliminated in 6 (86%) patients from the SP group. Residual anterograde slow pathway conduction that was preserved after the initial RFCA in 8 of 9 patients was eliminated by an additional slow potential-guided RFCA. Both the Abl/His-CS ratio (0.86 +/- 0.07 vs 0.73 +/- 0.11, P = 0.01) and A/V ratio (0.80 +/- 0.31 vs. 0.14 +/- 0.01, P < 0.001) were higher in the ES group than the SP group. The ratios for the residual anterograde slow pathway ablation in the ES group were similar to those in the SP group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the retrograde slow pathway runs more on the atrial side of the tricuspid valve annulus at the level of the coronary sinus ostium compared with the anterograde slow pathway, although both pathways run parallel or are fused in portions more proximal to the His bundle.     

Junctional rhythm during slow pathway radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: beat-to-beat analysis and its prognostic value in relation to electrophysiologic and anatomic parameters

INTRODUCTION: Junctional rhythm usually is considered a sensitive but nonspecific marker of successful ablation of the slow pathway in AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. Nevertheless, this junctional rhythm has been little studied, and its relations to recognized predictors of successful radiofrequency (RF) application were never established in any study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients underwent RF ablation of the slow pathway for AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. Ninety RF applications were delivered, and each ablation site was determined using three different fluoroscopic projections. Six anatomic zones were defined from low posterior septum to the site of distal His-bundle recording (P1, P2, M1, M2, A1, and A2). Characteristics of junctional rhythm during RF applications were analyzed. Atrial electrogram characteristics at the ablation sites also were studied. All patients had successful slow pathway ablation, without any complication. The ablation sites were located as follows: 41 at P1, 26 at P2, 20 at M1, and 3 in M2. Forty RF applications were successful: 14 of 41 attempts at P1, 7 of 26 at P2, 16 of 20 at M1, and 3 of 3 at M2. Mid-septal ablation site (M1 and M2) was associated with higher occurrence of junctional rhythm (P < 0.0001), earlier first junctional beat (P = 0.008), and earlier occurrence of the longest junctional burst (P = 0.03) compared with posterior ablation site (P1 and P2). The combination of a mid-septal ablation site and a first junctional beat occurring < or = 3 seconds after onset of RF application identified successful RF application with 100% accuracy. Using multivariate analysis, the ablation site, duration of atrial electrogram (including slow pathway potential when present), and occurrence of junctional rhythm were independent predictors of success. CONCLUSION: Successful slow pathway ablation depends on many factors. Junctional rhythm characteristics are related to the site of RF delivery and can be helpful in assessing successful slow pathway ablation.     

Dimension and Related Anatomical Distance of Koch's Triangle in Patients with Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Koch's Triangle in AVNRT. Introduction: The dimension of Koch's triangle in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia has not been well described. Understanding the dimension and anatomical distance related to Koch's triangle might be useful in avoiding accidental AV block during ablation of the slow pathway. The purposes of this study were to define the dimension of Koch's triangle and its related anatomical distance and correlate these parameters with the successful ablation sites in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. Methods and Results: We studied 218 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. The distance between the presumed proximal His-bundle area and the base of the coronary sinus orifice (D_His-Os) measured in the right anterior oblique view was used to define the dimension of Koch's triangle. The distance of the proximal His-bundle recording site from the successful ablation site (D_His-Ab) and the distance as a fraction of the entire length of Koch's triangle (D_His-Ab/D_His-Os) were determined. The mean D_His-Os, and D_His-Ab were 25.9 ± 7.9 and 13.4 ± 3.8 mm, respectively. D_His-os negatively correlated with patient age (r = -0.41, P < 0.0001) and body mass index (r = -0.18, P = 0.004). Among the patients with successful ablation sites in the medial area, D_His-Os was longer (27.2 ± 6.6 vs 24.6 ± 8.4 mm, P < 0.005), D_His–Ab was similar (12.9 ± 3.1 vs 13.9 ± 4.0, P > 0.05) and D_His-Ab/D_His-Os was smaller (0.48 ± 0.04 vs 0.74 ± 0.11, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the patients with successful ablation sites in the medial location needed more radiofrequency pulse numbers than those in the posterior location (6 ± 4 vs 4 ± 3, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The site of successful slow pathway ablation was consistently about 13 mm from the site recording the proximal His-bundle deflection in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia despite marked variability in the dimensions of Koch's triangle: therefore, patients with large triangles required ablation in the medial region rather than the posterior region. Care should be taken when delivering radiofrequency energy to the posteroseptal area in patients with shorter D_His-Os to avoid injury to AV node.     

射频消融治疗房室结折返性心动过速不同终点的疗效观察

目的　评价射频消融治疗房室结折返性心动过速 ( AVNRT)的不同终点对远期复发的影响。方法　对 1 0 4例 AVNRT患者进行慢径消融 ,比较慢径传导消失组和慢径传导残留组 AVNRT复发率。结果　射频消融术后慢径传导消失 5 8例 ,慢径传导残留 4 6例 ,术后 1 8± 9个月随访期内 ,慢径传导消失组复发 2例 ( 3 .4 % ) ,慢径传导残留组复发 2例 ( 4.3 % ) ,两组无显著差别 ( P>0 .0 5 )。结论　射频消融术后慢径传导残留并不增加 AVNRT复发的危险性     

Targeting the slow pathway for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: initial results and long-term follow-up in 379 consecutive patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study is designed to examine the immediate and short-term outcomes of patients who have undergone slow pathway ablation/modification for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. BACKGROUND: Targeting the slow pathway has emerged as the superior form of treatment for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. This technique has been found effective and is associated with a low complication rate. However, little is known of the long-term outcome of patients undergoing this procedure. METHODS: Over a 40-month period the slow pathway was targeted in 379 consecutive patients with proven atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The case records of all patients were examined. Accurate follow-up data is available in 96% of patients a mean of 20.6 months after the procedure. RESULTS: The initial success rate was 97%. The incidence of complete heart block was 0.8% and the mean fluoroscopy duration was 27.3 min. The recurrence rate was 6.9%. Age, number of pulses and fluoroscopy time were positively associated with either initial failure or recurrence. A total of 11.3% of patients were still taking antiarrhythmic medication at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Targeting the slow pathway is an effective form of treatment for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. The technique has a high initial success rate, a low complication rate and a low recurrence rate at long-term follow-up. Slow pathway modification is associated with similar success rates and recurrence rates as slow pathway ablation and may confer theoretical long-term benefits.     

Temperature-controlled slow pathway ablation for treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia using a combined anatomical and electrogram guided strategy

AIMS: Anatomical and electrogram-guided techniques have been usedseparately for slow pathway ablation in atrioventricular nodalreentrant tachycardia. The aims of the present study were toanalyse electrogram characteristics of target sites and biophysicalparameters using a combined anatomical and electrogram-guidedtechnique for temperature-controlled radiofrequency catheterablation of the slow pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a temperature-controlled (pre-selected 60 °C) cathetersystem, 53 patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardiaunderwent slow pathway radiofrequency ablation. Mapping wasstarted posteroseptally near the coronary sinus ostium and continuedtowards the midseptal area if needed. The longest and latestatrial electrograms with an atrioventricular ratio of 0·5were targeted. After a median of two pulses (mean 2·36± 1·33), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardiawas rendered non-inducible in all patients without complications.Successful sites had longer atrial electrograms (78·8± 9·8 vs 67·6 ± 13·3 ms,P<0·003) and larger ventricular electrogram amplitudes(92·4 ± 51·2 vs 63·1 ± 28·8mV, P<0·05) than the failed sites, but had a similaratrioventricular ratio, P-A interval and atrial electrogramamplitude. Overall, an atrial electrogram duration of 70 mswas associated with effective radiofrequency delivery, with86% sensitivity and 62% specificity. The achieved temperaturemaximum was 62·3 ± 9·8 °C at successfuland 58·8 ± 9·0 °C at unsuccessful sites(ns). There was no significant difference between successfuland unsuccessful applications with respect to power output,impedance and total delivery energy. During a pre-dischargestudy, three patients with inducible atrioventricular nodalreentrant tachycardia underwent a repeat ablation. During 12·3± 2·5 (6–15) months of follow-up, threeothers had a clinical recurrence of atrioventricular nodal reentranttachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: The combined approach for slow pathway ablation is highly effective,requiring a low number of radiofrequency pulses. Long atrialactivation time seems to be the most powerful predictor of success.Similar catheter tip temperature levels during successful andunsuccessful radiofrequency applications indicate that suboptimalselection of target sites rather than ineffective heating dueto poor catheter tissue coupling is responsible for unsuccessfulenergy delivery.     

Slow pathway catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia guided by electroanatomical mapping: a randomized comparison to the conventional approach.

BACKGROUND: Electroanatomical mapping may be expected to improve safety, efficiency and efficacy of selective slow pathway ablation for atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The goal of this prospective randomized study was to compare the efficiency of conventional fluoroscopic and electroanatomical mapping in guiding catheter ablation of AVNRT. METHODS AND RESULTS: Following induction of typical AVNRT, 20 consecutive patients were randomized to either conventional fluoroscopic or electroanatomical (CARTO) mapping to guide slow pathway ablation using a 4mm electrode. Endpoints for ablation were non-inducibility and no more than a single AV nodal echo on aggressive retesting. Acute procedural success was 100% in both groups, with no complications. Although there were no differences in time taken for pre- and post-ablation electrophysiological evaluations, in the electroanatomical group the ablation portion of the procedure showed a substantial reduction in duration (12.6+/-6.8 vs 35.9+/-18.3 min; P< 0.001) and fluoroscopic exposure (0.7+/-0.5 vs 9.6+/-5.0 min; P< 0.001) compared with the fluoroscopic group, reflected in reduced total procedure time (83.6+/-23.6 vs 114+/-19.3 min; P=0.008) and total fluoroscopic exposure (4.2+/-1.4 vs 15.9+/-6.4 min; P< 0.001). Electroanatomical mapping was associated with a lower number (2.7+/-1.6 vs 5+/-2.8; P=0.018), duration (165.3+/-181.6 vs 341+/-177.7s; P=0.013), and total energy delivery (24.3+/-3.1 vs 28.7+/-4.5 watts; P=0.042) of RF applications. There were no acute or long-term (8.9+/-2.2 month) complications or arrhythmia recurrence in either group. CONCLUSIONS: While both conventional and non-fluoroscopic electroanatomical mapping are associated with excellent results in guiding ablation of typical AVNRT, the latter offers significantly shorter procedure and fluoroscopy times, improving the efficiency of the procedure and reducing X-ray exposure.     

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia with ventriculoatrial block and unsuccessful ablation of the slow pathway

We report the case of failed slow pathway ablation in a woman with typical AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and periods of Wenckebach-like second-degree VA block and 2:1 VA block. The occurrence of VA block during AVNRT suggests the upper turnaround point of the circuit is confined to the AV node. This supports the notion that, at least in some cases, the location of the reentrant circuit for AVNRT is completely in the compact AV node.     

Radiofrequency catheter ablation for incessant atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia normalized H-V block associated with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

A 30-year-old man was admitted for treatment of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy caused by incessant atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). An echocardiogram revealed dilatation of all cardiac chambers with severe globally depressed biventricular systolic function. During an electrophysiologic study, HV interval was prolonged to 118 ms by atrial extrastimulus and 2:1 HV block was documented during AVNRT. Four weeks after catheter ablation for AVNRT, an echocardiogram demonstrated regression of the wall motion abnormality of both ventricles and of their dimensions. In the electrophysiologic study, the HV conduction disturbance disappeared. So far, this is the first case in which tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy was accompanied by transient His-Purkinje conduction abnormality.     

Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the elderly

INTRODUCTION: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common regular supraventricular tachycardia in the general population as well as in elderly patients. The purpose of the study was to investigate the success and complication rate particularly regarding the induction of an atrioventricular (AV) block by radiofrequency (RF) ablation in elderly patients with and without a preexisting AV block. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between February 1998 and July 2004, all patients with symptomatic AVNRT referred for slow-pathway ablation in our institution were included and divided into two groups: group 1 patients younger than 75 years (n = 508) and group 2 patients > or =75 years (n = 70). A preexisting prolonged PR interval was present in 17 (3.3%) patients of group 1 and in 26 (37%, P < 0.0001) patients of group 2. Following successful slow-pathway ablation (follow-up time group 1: 37 +/- 22, group 2: 37 +/- 24 months) no induction of an AV block was observed in group 2 but in four patients of group 1 (0.79%) a complete heart block was induced requiring a pacemaker implantation. In group 1, 15 (2.95%) patients with a recurrence of AVNRT were readmitted for a repeat ablation procedure. No recurrences occurred in group 2. CONCLUSION: Despite a higher incidence of preexisting prolonged PR intervals slow-pathway ablation in elderly patients is both effective and safe and should be considered as the first line therapy also in this patient population.     

Para-Hisian entrainment: a novel pacing maneuver to differentiate orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia from atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia

INTRODUCTION: Para-Hisian pacing during sinus rhythm can help to identify the presence of an accessory pathway (AP). In this maneuver, the retrograde activation time and pattern are compared during capture and loss-of-capture of the His bundle while pacing from a para-Hisian position. However, identification of a retrograde AP does not necessitate that it is operative during the tachycardia of interest; conversely, slowly conducting or "distant" bypass tracts may not be identified. We evaluated the utility of entrainment or resetting of tachycardias from the para-Hisian position to help distinguish atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) from orthodromic atrioventricular tachycardia (AVRT). METHODS AND RESULTS: Para-Hisian entrainment/resetting was evaluated in 50 patients: 33 with AVNRT and 17 with AVRT. The maneuvers were performed using a standard quadripolar catheter placed at the His position: low output for right ventricular (RV) capture and high output for both RV and His capture. The retrograde atrial activation sequence, SA interval (interval from stimulus to earliest retrograde atrial activation), and "local" VA interval (interval between the ventricular and atrial electrograms at the site of earliest retrograde atrial activation) were compared between His and His/RV capture. The DeltaSA was > 40 ms in patients with AVNRT and was < 40 ms in all but one patient with AVRT. In concert with the DeltaSA interval, the DeltaVA interval was able to fully define the mechanism of the tachycardia in all patients studied. CONCLUSION: Para-Hisian entrainment/resetting can determine the course of retrograde conduction operative during narrow complex tachycardias. It is a useful diagnostic maneuver in differentiating AVNRT and orthodromic AVRT.     

Distal end of the atrioventricular nodal artery predicts the risk of atrioventricular block during slow pathway catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia

OBJECTIVE—To search for a reliable anatomical landmark within Koch's triangle to predict the risk of atrioventricular (AV) block during radiofrequency slow pathway catheter ablation of AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT).
PATIENTS AND METHODS—To test the hypothesis that the distal end of the AV nodal artery represents the anatomical location of the AV node, and thus could be a useful landmark for predicting the risk of AV block, 128 consecutive patients with AVNRT receiving slow pathway catheter ablation were prospectively studied in two phases. In phase I (77 patients), angiographic demonstration of the AV nodal artery and its ending was performed at the end of the ablation procedure, whereas in the subsequent phase II study (51 patients), the angiography was performed immediately before catheter ablation to assess the value of identifying this new landmark in reducing the risk of AV block. Multiple electrophysiologic and anatomical parameters were analysed. The former included the atrial activation sequence between the His bundle recording site (HBE) and the coronary sinus orifice or the catheter ablation site, either during AVNRT or during sinus rhythm. The latter included the spatial distances between the distal end of the AV nodal artery and the HBE and the final catheter ablation site, and the distance between the HBE and the tricuspid border at the coronary sinus orifice floor.
RESULTS—In phase I, nine of the 77 patients had complications of transient (seven patients) or permanent (two patients) complete AV block during stepwise, anatomy guided slow pathway catheter ablation. These nine patients had a wider distance between the HBE and the distal end of the AV nodal artery, and a closer approximation of the catheter ablation site to the distal end of the AV nodal artery, which independently predicted the risk of AV block. In contrast, none of the available electrophysiologic parameters were shown to be reliable. When the distance between the distal end of the AV nodal artery and the ablation target site was more than 2 mm, the complication of AV block virtually never occurred. In phase II, all 51 patients had successful elimination of the slow pathways without complication when the ablation procedure was guided by preceding angiography with identification of the distal end of the AV nodal artery.
CONCLUSIONS—The distal end of the AV nodal artery shown by angiography serves as a useful landmark for the prediction of the risk of AV block during slow pathway catheter ablation of AVNRT.


Keywords: atrioventricular nodal artery; atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia; catheter ablation; heart block.     

程控刺激不能诱发的房室结折返性心动过速慢径消融的临床疗效评估

目的　评价程控刺激不能诱发的房室结折返性心动过速 (AVNRT)射频消融慢径的临床疗效。方法　 6 1例有心动过速病史且心电图疑诊为AVNRT的病人 ,电生理检查有房室结双径(DAVNP)但不能诱发AVNRT ,随机分为两组。A组 30例不消融而进行临床随访 ,当心动过速复发且经心电图证实为窄QRS心动过速者接受射频消融阻断慢径。B组 31例接受射频消融以阻断慢径 ,术后临床随访。结果　A、B两组分别有 2 4例和 2 7例病人完成随访。A组 2 4例随访中分别在 1年内发作心动过速 ,再次接受消融阻断慢径后随访 (12 .1± 12 .2 )个月 ,仅 1例复发心动过速 (4.2 % ) ,与消融前比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 0 0 1)。B组 2 7例平均随访 (2 4 .2± 17.6 )个月 ,1例复发心动过速 (3.7% ) ,与A组病人消融前相比差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 0 0 1) ,而与其消融后比较差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　有阵发性心动过速病史且心电图疑诊为AVNRT的病人 ,电生理检查有DAVNP而不能诱发心动过速者 ,射频消融阻断慢径具有良好的临床疗效。