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. Copyright 2001 The European Society of Cardiology.