OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardias in an elderly (> or = 70 years of age) group of patients. BACKGROUND: Supraventricular tachycardias are the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia and affect all age groups. Although usually well tolerated in youth, supraventricular tachycardias may be associated with disabling symptoms and have life-threatening potential in the elderly. In addition, antiarrhythmic agents are less well tolerated and may be associated with a higher incidence of toxicity in the elderly. METHODS: From May 1989 to March 1993, 454 patients underwent a radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure at the University of California, San Francisco, for the treatment of symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia. Sixty-seven of these patients were > or = 70 years of age and constituted the study group. Patients underwent one of the following catheter ablation procedures: complete atrioventricular (AV) junctional ablation for ventricular rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation (37 patients), AV node modification for the treatment of AV node reentrant tachycardia (17 patients), accessory pathway ablation (9 patients), ablation of the "slow zone" to cure atrial flutter (4 patients) and atrial tachycardia ablation (1 patient). One patient underwent ablation for both AV node reentrant tachycardia and atrial flutter. RESULTS: Success was achieved in 67 (98.5%) of 68 ablation procedures. There were no procedural or early deaths. The overall complication rate was 7.4%, and only one patient (1.5%) had long-term sequelae (permanent cardiac pacing for complete heart block). At a mean (+/- SD) follow-up of 22.1 +/- 12.9 months, 63 (94%) of 67 patients were alive, with no antiarrhythmic agents for the treatment of their presenting arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: In this series radiofrequency catheter ablation appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for elderly patients (> or = 70 years of age) with a variety of symptomatic, drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardias. Because of the high incidence of severe symptoms associated with tachycardic episodes, the expense and the possible severe proarrhythmic problems associated with antiarrhythmic medications in this age group, catheter ablation may be considered an early rather than a "last resort" treatment option.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation for the treatment of supraventricular tachycardias in an elderly (> or = 70 years of age) group of patients. BACKGROUND:Supraventricular tachycardias are the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia and affect all age groups. Although usually well tolerated in youth, supraventricular tachycardias may be associated with disabling symptoms and have life-threatening potential in the elderly. In addition, antiarrhythmic agents are less well tolerated and may be associated with a higher incidence of toxicity in the elderly. METHODS: From May 1989 to March 1993, 454 patients underwent a radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure at the University of California, San Francisco, for the treatment of symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia. Sixty-seven of these patients were > or = 70 years of age and constituted the study group. Patients underwent one of the following catheter ablation procedures: complete atrioventricular (AV) junctional ablation for ventricular rate control in patients with atrial fibrillation (37 patients), AV node modification for the treatment of AV node reentrant tachycardia (17 patients), accessory pathway ablation (9 patients), ablation of the "slow zone" to cure atrial flutter (4 patients) and atrial tachycardia ablation (1 patient). One patient underwent ablation for both AV node reentrant tachycardia and atrial flutter. RESULTS: Success was achieved in 67 (98.5%) of 68 ablation procedures. There were no procedural or early deaths. The overall complication rate was 7.4%, and only one patient (1.5%) had long-term sequelae (permanent cardiac pacing for complete heart block). At a mean (+/- SD) follow-up of 22.1 +/- 12.9 months, 63 (94%) of 67 patients were alive, with no antiarrhythmic agents for the treatment of their presenting arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: In this series radiofrequency catheter ablation appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for elderly patients (> or = 70 years of age) with a variety of symptomatic, drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardias. Because of the high incidence of severe symptoms associated with tachycardic episodes, the expense and the possible severe proarrhythmic problems associated with antiarrhythmic medications in this age group, catheter ablation may be considered an early rather than a "last resort" treatment option.
Authors: Xiao Kui Li; James Pemberton; Kai Thomenius; Aaron Dentinger; Robert I Lowe; Muhammad Ashraf; K Kirk Shung; Raymond Chia; Douglas N Stephens; Matthew O'Donnell; Aman Mahajan; Seshadri Balaji; Kalyanam Shivkumar; David J Sahn Journal: J Ultrasound Med Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 2.153
Authors: Chi Hyung Seo; Douglas N Stephens; Jonathan Cannata; Aaron Dentinger; Feng Lin; Suhyun Park; Douglas Wildes; Kai E Thomenius; Peter Chen; Tho Nguyen; Alan de La Rama; Jong Seob Jeong; Aman Mahajan; Kalyanam Shivkumar; Amin Nikoozadeh; Omer Oralkan; Uyen Truong; David J Sahn; Pierre T Khuri-Yakub; Matthew O'Donnell Journal: IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control Date: 2011-07 Impact factor: 2.725
Authors: Béatrice Brembilla-Perrot; Jean Marc Sellal; Arnaud Olivier; Thibaut Villemin; Daniel Beurrier; Julie Vincent; Vladimir Manenti; Christian de Chillou; Erwan Bozec; Nicolas Girerd Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-05 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Chien-Lung Chan; Ai-Hsien Adams Li; Hsiang-An Chung; Dinh-Van Phan Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-03-30 Impact factor: 3.390