RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PAROXYSMAL SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIAS: EXPERIENCE AT AFIC & NIHD

Abstract

Objective: To share our experience of radiofrequency catheter ablation for the treatment of supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias at our institution

Study Design: Cross sectional study design.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology & National Institute of Heart Diseases from January 2014 to January 2016

Material and Methods: In this retrospective single center study, 800 consecutive patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation were enrolled.

Results: In 536 of the 800 patients the supraventricular tachycardia substrate was an AVNRT (67%), in 236 patients an AVRT (29.5%) and in 28 patients an AT (3.5%). Supraventricular tachycardia was diagnosed 6.6 ± 12.1 years and ablated 8.5 ± 5.7 years after the first episode of tachycardia. The time interval between the first occurrence of the tachycardia and the diagnosis was significantly shorter in AVRT (p 0.03) as compared
AVNRT; however, the earlier diagnosis did not lead to earlier ablation. The total procedure duration, fluoroscopy time and number of RF energy applications for AVNRT were significantly shorter as compared to AVRT and AT (p 0.001). The overall success rate of radiofrequency ablation is calculated to be 97%. The complication rate at the time of ablation is reported to be 0.5%.

Conclusion: Radiofrequency catheter ablation has a good success rate and a low complication rate in patients suffering with supraventricular tachycardia.