[Mid-term outcome of escape rhythm after radiofrequency ablation of the atrioventricular junction].
Mid-term outcome of the underlying escape rhythm developed after radiofrequency ablation of the atrio-ventricular junction was studied in 50 consecutive patients (28 women and 22 men with a mean age of 66.2 +/- 9.6 years). The escape rhythm was assessed immediately after ablation and after 13.7 +/- 8 months. At the end of ablation: an escape rhythm was present in 38 patients (76%), with a mean rate of 40.7 +/- 9.7 beats/min and a QRS morphology identical to the preablation QRS morphology in 22 patients (58%). At follow-up: an escape rhythm was present in 37 patients (74%), with a slower mean rate of 36.4 +/- 6.8 beats/min (p < 0.05) and an unchanged QRS morphology in 87.5% of the patients. Patients presenting with an escape rhythm at follow-up were more frequently found to have a postablation escape rhythm (p < 0.01). Escape rhythm presence at follow-up was not influenced by age, presence of a cardiac disease, continuation of an antiarrhythmic treatment after ablation, use of a bilateral approach for ablation or number of radiofrequency applications.


CONCLUSIONS
after abrupt inhibition of the stimulation, an escape rhythm was present only in 74% of the patients 13.7 +/- 8 months after atrio-ventricular junction radiofrequency ablation. QRS morphology was identical to the preablation morphology in 57% of the patients.
Deharo
J C
JC
Services de cardiologie, CHU Marseille.
Mansourati
J
J
Graux
P
P
Gallay
P
P
Thirion
X
X
Macaluso
G
G
Moustaghfir
A
A
Blanc
J J
JJ
Croccel
L
L
Djiane
P
P
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000601:surgery*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Evolution à moyen terme du foyer d'échappement après ablation par radiofréquence de la jonction auriculoventriculaire.