title: Low-energy DC catheter ablation of left atrial ectopic tachycardia that had resulted in reversible cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Catheter ablation of automatic atrial tachycardia has been previously reported in a small number of adult cases in which the ectopic focus was predominantly located in the right atrium. We report on a patient with atrial automatic tachycardia originating in the left atrium, in whom successful low-energy DC catheter ablation was performed via a transseptal puncture. The patient presented with severe congestive cardiac failure that resolved following the procedure. Catheter ablation in such cases is feasible, it can reverse tachycardia induced ventricular function impairment, and should be attempted before resorting to open heart surgical ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiological Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, England.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Katritsis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leatham
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pumphrey
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Redwood
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rowland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D013612:Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*