Catheter ablation of atrioventricular conduction.
35 patients with refractory supraventricular arrhythmias were treated in three centres by high-energy shocks delivered to the atrioventricular conduction system from a conventional transvenous pacing catheter. After a mean interval of ten months, 26 patients (74%) had persistent complete heart block, 2 (6%) had intermittent complete heart block, and 3(9%) had first-degree heart block. 3 patients continued to have conducted atrial fibrillation, but with slower ventricular rates than previously, and 1 had normalisation of dual atrio-His conduction. In 1 patient a septal accessory pathway was ablated. 30 patients (86%) are completely symptom-free without additional therapy. There were no important long-term complications. Transvenous ablation of atrioventricular conduction is a safe and effective technique for treating a wide range of refractory atrial and junctional arrhythmias.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology; D002036:Bundle of His / Q000503:physiopathology; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged