title: [Long-term follow-up of patients after interruption of the atrioventricular conduction by electrode catheter and DC shock: experiences with 100 patients].
abstract: Long-term follow-up (44 +/- 21 months) was studied in 100 patients (pts) (mean age 56 +/- 12 years) who underwent direct current ablation because of drug-resistant supraventricular arrhythmias. In 85 pts (85%) complete atrioventricular (AV) block was initially achieved. During the follow-up period, AV conduction resumed in 15 pts (15%). Thirteen pts underwent another ablation session and complete AV block was achieved in 11/13 pts (85%). After catheter ablation complete AV-block was achieved in 96 pts and the remaining four pts had second-degree AV-block. Complications like pericardial effusion, arterial hypotension or ventricular arrhythmias occurred in 18 pts. Total mortality was 13% (13 pts): one patient died suddenly, and seven pts died from cardiac causes (heart failure in six pts, reinfarction in one patient). Transcatheter direct-current ablation is an effective method to interrupt AV conduction and to treat patients with drug-resistant supraventricular arrhythmias. Although there is a small risk of severe complications, this procedure should be reserved for pts with supraventricular arrhythmias who do not respond to conventional drug treatment.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Kardiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Trappe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wenzlaff
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schultze-Florey
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lichtlen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000503:physiopathology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: Langzeitverlauf von Patienten nach Unterbrechung der atrioventrikulären Uberleitung durch Elektrodenkatheter und DC-Schock: Erfahrungen bei 100 Patienten.