INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation has become the treatment of choice in the majority of patients suffering from cardiac arrhythmias. In this study we present our experience in a large group of patients treated using this procedure. METHODS: Between January 1992 and February 1996, we performed 1000 consecutive ablation procedures in 938 patients with different cardiac arrhythmias. The indication for ablation were: tachycardias due to the presence of an accessory pathway (n = 487), atrio-ventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 284), atrio-ventricular nodal ablation (n = 104), atrial tachycardia (n = 42), atrial flutter (n = 41) and ventricular tachycardia (n = 42). RESULTS: Radiofrequency ablation was initially effective in 908 out of the 938 patients (97%). Effectiveness ranged from 100% in atrio-ventricular nodal ablation to 83% in atrial tachycardia. During follow-up, a total of 45 recurrences of the arrhythmia were documented (5%) ranging from 2% in atrial tachycardia to 28% in atrial flutter. In 40 out of the 45 patients a second procedure was performed, being effective in 34 of them. Finally, radiofrequency ablation was effective in 896 out of the 938 patients (96%). A total of 13 significative complications were observed (1.3%). Of them, 10 occurred during the 250 initial procedures (4%) and 3 in the remaining 750 procedures (0.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In centers performing a large number of procedures, radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of the majority of cardiac arrhythmias.
INTRODUCTION: Radiofrequency ablation has become the treatment of choice in the majority of patients suffering from cardiac arrhythmias. In this study we present our experience in a large group of patients treated using this procedure. METHODS: Between January 1992 and February 1996, we performed 1000 consecutive ablation procedures in 938 patients with different cardiac arrhythmias. The indication for ablation were: tachycardias due to the presence of an accessory pathway (n = 487), atrio-ventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 284), atrio-ventricular nodal ablation (n = 104), atrial tachycardia (n = 42), atrial flutter (n = 41) and ventricular tachycardia (n = 42). RESULTS: Radiofrequency ablation was initially effective in 908 out of the 938 patients (97%). Effectiveness ranged from 100% in atrio-ventricular nodal ablation to 83% in atrial tachycardia. During follow-up, a total of 45 recurrences of the arrhythmia were documented (5%) ranging from 2% in atrial tachycardia to 28% in atrial flutter. In 40 out of the 45 patients a second procedure was performed, being effective in 34 of them. Finally, radiofrequency ablation was effective in 896 out of the 938 patients (96%). A total of 13 significative complications were observed (1.3%). Of them, 10 occurred during the 250 initial procedures (4%) and 3 in the remaining 750 procedures (0.4%). CONCLUSIONS: In centers performing a large number of procedures, radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of the majority of cardiac arrhythmias.
Authors: George F Van Hare; Harold Javitz; Dorit Carmelli; J Philip Saul; Ronn E Tanel; Peter S Fischbach; Ronald J Kanter; Michael Schaffer; Ann Dunnigan; Steven Colan; Gerald Serwer Journal: Heart Rhythm Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 6.343