Acute coronary occlusion during radiofrequency catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter

We report the first case of acute right coronary artery occlusion in an adult patient during radiofrequency catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter. ST segment elevation rapidly resolved with antithrombotic therapy. This complication was thought to be due to the short distance between the endocardium and the right coronary artery at the ablation site, the high-wattage output from the radiofrequency generator, and the lack of sufficient cooling effect related to a severe upstream coronary stenosis. In patients with known right coronary artery stenosis who are suffering from typical atrial flutter, evaluation of the significance of the stenosis would be reasonable.     

Acute right coronary artery occlusion following radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial flutter

Acute right coronary artery occlusion following radiofrequency ablation. We report the first known case of acute right coronary artery occlusion following Radiofrequency (RF) ablation for atrial flutter in a patient without known prior coronary disease. Our patient developed acute chest pain and inferior ST-segment elevation immediately following the procedure. Emergent cardiac catheterization was performed, revealing an occluded distal right coronary artery, which was immediately stented. Acute coronary occlusion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients, with or without coronary artery disease, who experience chest pain following RF ablation for atrial flutter.     

射频消融术后肺栓塞一例

射频消融术可以导致血栓栓塞 ,属其并发症的一种。本文报道 1例射频消融治疗心房扑动术后发生的肺栓塞。患者男性 ,73岁。因病态窦房结综合征、心房扑动而入院行射频消融术。入院心电图为心房扑动 ,4∶1房室传导。超声心动图示左心房轻度增大 ,左心室舒张功能明显减退。入院半年前曾患右侧脑栓塞。射频消融术历时 3ｈ ,反复线性消融下腔静脉 三尖瓣环峡部 ,未能终止心房扑动 ,最终心房快速起搏转为心房颤动 ,并放置临时起搏导管。术后 10ｈ患者感心前区隐痛 ,呼吸困难伴咳嗽 ,鲜红色血痰。听诊两个肺呼吸音低。心电图为心房颤动 ,Ｉ导联Ｓ…     

心房扑动的心电生理特点及射频消融治疗

目的探讨心房扑动（房扑）病例电生理特点及采用射频消融治疗房扑的效果。方法对２６例房扑患者标测心房激动顺序，用隐匿拖带方法确定折返环部位。用长导引鞘作支撑，在心房内行线性消融方法治疗房扑。结果２６例房扑中２３例折返环位于三尖瓣环部位，１例位于右心房游离壁部位，１例位于左心房，另１例在三尖瓣环及右心房游离壁部位各有一折返环。对２０例临床上有房扑病史者行射频消融治疗，１７例成功。典型房扑１５例（包括１例有２个折返环的房扑），１４例消融成功；不典型房扑６例，４例消融成功。结论房扑的大折返环可采用心房激动顺序及隐匿拖带的方法确定其部位。用长导引鞘作支撑行线性消融是治疗房扑的安全有效的方法。     

Permanent left atrial tachycardia: radiofrequency catheter ablation through the coronary sinus

The case of a 13-year-old child with an unusually localized "focal" permanent atrial tachycardia is reported. Electrophysiologic study showed that the earliest atrial activation occurred in the distal coronary sinus and preceded the atrial depolarization recorded along the endocardial side of the lateral part of the mitral annulus. Distal coronary sinus mapping revealed a fragmented, polyphasic atrial electrogram. Radiofrequency current delivery to the site permanently stopped the tachycardia.     

Left atrial flutter after radiofrequency catheter ablation of focal atrial fibrillation

We report an arrhythmic complication in two patients in whom a procedure directed at isolating one or two pulmonary veins had been performed. The complication was related to pulmonary vein disconnection scars after ablation. Both patients developed new clinical tachycardia (atypical atrial flutter) secondary to a reentrant phenomena in the vicinity of a previously ablated pulmonary vein.     

对比普通与灌注冷却射频消融电极在Ⅰ型心房扑动消融中的作用

目的　对比普遍与灌注冷却射频消融电极在Ⅰ型心房扑动（CAFL）消融中的作用。方法　60例CAFL患者随机分为两组普通射频消融电极治疗组（CRF）和灌注冷却射频消融电极治疗组（IRF）,分别比较两组取得下腔静脉与三尖瓣环峡部双向阻滞的手术时间、X线照射时间、射频消融放电次数及放电时间、并观察消融时电能、阻抗以及温度的改变。结果　IRF组的手术时间、X线照射时间、射频消融时间均较CRF组短（P<0.01）,放电次数也少（P<0.05）,IRF组消融过程中阻抗变化小、电能稳定,温度差异不明显,而CRF组则相反,且有19例出现碳化现象,两组痛感差异无显著性,均无心包填塞、栓塞等并发症。结论　灌注冷却射频消融电极在CAFL消融中优越于普通射频消融电极。     

典型心房扑动导管射频消融终点评价

目的 :探讨峡部双向阻滞在射频导管消融 (RFCA)典型心房扑动 (AF)中的临床意义。方法 :将完成RFCA的 4 3例典型AF患者分为 3组 :①A组 ,12例 ,为静脉滴注 (静滴 )异丙肾上腺素 (1～ 5 μg/min)下不能诱发AF者 ;②B组 ,16例 ,为峡部发生双向传导阻滞者 ;③C组 ,15例 ,为在静滴异丙肾上腺素下 (1～ 5 μg/min)峡部双向传导阻滞者。对上述 3组患者进行常规的心内电生理检查及标测 ,下腔静脉至三尖瓣后叶或 (和 )三尖瓣隔叶至冠状窦口的欧氏嵴进行线性消融 ,以静滴异丙肾上腺素下不能诱发AF或峡部双向阻滞为消融终点。结果 :4 3例AF患者全部消融成功。A组中有 1例伴房室结折返性心动过速患者 ,进行房室结慢径改良后 ,AF不能被诱发。B组中有 1例并发房性心动过速及心房颤动患者 ,经过对AF线性消融后房性心动过速及心房颤动亦消失。随访 1～ 6 0个月 ,A组中有 4例复发 ,B组中有 2例复发 ,C组中无一例复发。结论 :下腔静脉、三尖瓣环和冠状窦口之间的峡部是典型AF折返环的一部分 ,RFCA治疗典型AF安全、可靠 ;静滴异丙肾上腺素下峡部双向传导阻滞作为典型AF的终点 ,可减少AF的复发     

Symptomatic improvement after radiofrequency catheter ablation for typical atrial flutter

OBJECTIVE—To assess the changes in quality of life, arrhythmia symptoms, and hospital resource utilisation following catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter.
DESIGN—Patient questionnaire to compare the time interval following ablation with a similar time interval before ablation.
SETTING—Tertiary referral centre.
PATIENTS—63 consecutive patients were studied. Four patients subsequently underwent an ablate and pace procedure, two died of co-morbid illnesses, and two were lost to follow up. The remaining 55 patients form the basis of the report.
RESULTS—Patients were followed for a mean (SD) of 12 (9.5) months. Atrial flutter ablation resulted in an improvement in quality of life (3.8 v 2.5, p < 0.001) and reductions in symptom frequency score (2.0 v 3.5, p < 0.001) and symptom severity score (2.0 v 3.8, p < 0.001) compared with preablation values. There was a reduction in the number of patients visiting accident and emergency departments (11% v 53%, p < 0.001), requiring cardioversion (7% v 51%, p < 0.001), or being admitted to hospital for a rhythm problem (11% v 56%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis confirmed that patients with atrial flutter and concomitant atrial fibrillation before ablation and those with atrial flutter alone both derived significant benefit from atrial flutter ablation. Patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation had an improvement in quality of life (3.5 v 2.5, p < 0.001) and reductions in symptom frequency score (2.3 v 3.5, p < 0.001) and symptom severity score (2.2 v 3.7, p < 0.001) compared with preablation values.
CONCLUSIONS—Ablation of atrial flutter is recommended both in patients with atrial flutter alone and in those with concomitant atrial fibrillation.


Keywords: atrial flutter; radiofrequency ablation; quality of life     

Successful radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial trigeminy in a young patient

A case is reported of a 35 year old man with atrial parasystolic trigeminy. The patient presented with a 10 year history of sustained supraventricular extrasystole causing symptoms leading to several hospitalisations and continuous unemployment. He had been treated ineffectively with several drug combinations. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of a right atrial focus completely suppressed the ectopic activity. This is the first report to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation in atrial ectopic trigeminy.

Keywords: atrial trigeminy;  ectopic atrial tachycardia;  radiofrequency catheter ablation     

Electrical disconnection of the coronary sinus by radiofrequency catheter ablation to isolate a trigger of atrial fibrillation

We report a case of radiofrequency catheter ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation, in which electrical disconnection of the coronary sinus was necessary to isolate a trigger initiating atrial fibrillation.     

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways associated with a coronary sinus diverticulum

In two patients with a symptomatic posteroseptally localizedaccessory atrioventricular pathway, but with distinct electrocardiographic patterns, a coronary sinus diverticulum appearedto be the site of this connection. Radiofrequency catheter ablationin the diverticulum was implemented to interrupt the pathwayin both cases. This study demonstrates the necessity to performcoronary sinus angiography when ablation attempts in the posteroseptalregion are not immediately successful, or optimal signals arenot detected.     

Improvement of atrial signal-averaged electrocardiographic abnormalities after radiofrequency catheter ablation in persistent atrial flutter

It has been reported that abnormalities of atrial conduction are present in patients with atrial flutter (AFL). We analyzed the P wave signal-averaged ECG (PSE) in patients after cardioversion of chronic AFL by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) to determine whether abnormalities of atrial conduction exist in patients with AFL and whether they recover. We studied 11 patients undergoing ablation of persistent AFL (AFL group), 11 patients with paroxysmal AFL (PAFL group), and 14 patients without any evidence of arrhythmias (control group). The PSEs were recorded 1 day, 7 days, and 1 month after RFCA. The filtered P wave duration (FPD) was calculated from the PSE recording. The FPD correlated with interatrial conduction time (r = 0.644) and left atrial dimension (r = 0.675) in combined assessment of the AFL and PAFL groups. The FPD was longer in the AFL group 1 day (165 +/- 14 ms, P < 0.001) and 1 month (150 +/- 18 ms, P < 0.05) after RFCA than in the control group (134 +/- 10 ms). Our findings suggest that atrial conduction abnormalities detected by PSE are present in patients with persistent AFL and improve 1 month after cardioversion.     

射频消融位于冠状静脉窦憩室处的后间隔房室旁路

目的报道５例冠状静脉窦憩室处后间隔房室旁路的射频消融结果。方法对５例后间隔显性房室旁路患者进行电生理检查和射频消融术。术后冠状动脉造影,以观察冠状静脉窦形态。结果所有患者的冠状静脉窦近端有一憩室,并在憩室的颈部消融阻断房室旁路。成功靶点图：心室激动较体表心电图Δ波提前（３１±３．７）ｍｓ,其中４例患者伴有旁路电位。结论冠状静脉窦憩室与后间隔旁路存在着解剖关系。术中冠状静脉窦造影检查有助于发现憩室和确定有效的消融部位。     

Remodeling of sinus node function after catheter ablation of right atrial flutter

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ablation of right atrial flutter upon sinus node function in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study enrolled 35 patients. Twenty-four patients (16 men and 8 women; age 68 +/- 11 years) were referred for ablation of persistent atrial flutter (duration 8 +/- 11 months). After ablation, there was abnormal sinus node function defined as a corrected sinus node recovery time (CSNRT) > or = 550 msec. The control group consisted of 11 patients who were undergoing pacemaker implantation for sinus node disease but did not have a history of atrial dysrhythmias or ablation. Within 24 hours of ablation or pacemaker implantation, baseline maximal CSNRT was measured through a permanent pacemaker by AAI pacing at six cycle lengths: 600, 550, 500, 450, 400, and 350 msec. CSNRT then was measured in the same manner at 48 hours, 14 days, and 3 months after ablation/pacemaker implantation. P wave amplitude and duration, and percent atrial sensing also were assessed at the same intervals. For patients undergoing atrial flutter ablation, there was progressive temporal recovery of CSNRT (1,204 +/- 671 msec at baseline vs 834 +/- 380 msec at 3 months; P < 0.001) and a significant increase in the percent atrial sensing and P wave amplitude at 3 months compared with baseline (P < 0.001). In control subjects, there was no change in the CSNRT, percent atrial pacing, or P wave amplitude. CONCLUSION: After ablation of persistent atrial flutter, there is temporal recovery of CSNRT and increase in spontaneous atrial activity. These findings suggest that atrial flutter induces reversible changes in sinus node function.