title: Randomized comparison of two targets in typical atrial flutter ablation.
abstract: Typical atrial flutter ablation has become anatomically guided to 2 separate sites within the isthmus at the inferior right atrium: (1) between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid annulus (anterior side of the isthmus [A]), (2) between the eustachian crest, the coronary sinus ostium and tricuspid annulus (posterior side of the isthmus [P]). We prospectively compared ablation results at these sites in 72 consecutive patients. Patients were randomized in group P or A according to the initial target site. If ablation failed at 1 site after 15 radiofrequency (RF) pulses, the other side of the isthmus was targeted. Before 15 RF pulses, complete bidirectional isthmus block was achieved in 30 of 36 group A patients and in 25 of 36 group P patients, with similar mean RF pulses number, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time. After shifting to the other target, success was finally obtained at P in 2 of 6 group A patients, and at A in 8 of 11 group P patients before a maximum of 30 RF pulses. Among successful patients, number of RF pulses, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time were significantly lower in group A (7.2 +/- 5.4 vs 11.0 +/- 8.1 pulses, p = 0.03; 131 +/- 44 vs 163 +/- 66 minutes, p = 0.03; 31 +/- 19 vs 46 +/- 24 minutes, p = 0.01, respectively). Impairment of atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction occurred in 5 patients only during ablation at P. AV block was transient in 4 patients and permanent in 1. Although atrial flutter ablation is equally effective at P and A, success seems easier to obtain when A is first targeted. Ablation at P is associated with a significant risk of AV block.
authors.affiliation: Rouen University Hospital, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Anselme
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scanu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poty
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kacet
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cribier
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saoudi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome