title: Transcatheter electrical AV junction ablation: predictors of success.
abstract: The initial and long-term results of transcatheter electrical ablation in 29 patients with drug-refractory supraventricular tachyarrhythmias were analyzed. Ablation was immediately successful (defined as induction of chronic complete heart block) in 25 patients (86.2%). Among the group in whom ablation was unsuccessful, there were more patients with ectopic atrial tachycardia and a higher incidence of narrow QRS escape rhythm following the initial ablation. A His amplitude equal to or greater than 0.3 mV was correlated with success. Complications of ablation included deep venous thrombosis and ventricular arrhythmias. Post-ablation stress testing was superior to ambulatory monitoring in identifying early return of atrioventricular conduction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Nagi
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wilkoff
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Morant
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sterba
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Castle
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Maloney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000601:surgery*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors