Remote occurrence of high degree heart block following failure of transcatheter AV junctional ablation: incidence and clinical significance.
We report on two patients out of a series of 22 who underwent transcatheter ablation of the atrioventricular (AV) junction. The procedure failed to induce permanent complete heart block in 15 patients, 12 of whom were in sinus rhythm with 1:1 AV conduction before hospital discharge. Of the 12 patients, two (16.6%) were found to be in high degree heart block, one month later. We discuss the mechanism of late occurrence of high degree heart block and we emphasize the need for systematic implantation of permanent ventricular or dual chamber pacemakers, despite failure of transcatheter ablation of the AV junction.
D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000601:surgery*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*