title: Changes in AV node conduction curves following slow pathway modification.
abstract: Dual AV node physiology often persists after successful slow pathway (SP) ablation, and the mechanism of tachycardia elimination is unresolved. Therefore, AV node conduction curves were analyzed following successful ablation (4 +/- 1 energy applications) in 85 consecutive patients (58 women, age 50 +/- 2 years) with typical AVNRT. Twenty-seven patients (32%) had complete elimination (group 1) whereas 58 (68%) patients had persistence (group 2) of dual AV node physiology. A significant increase in the AV node Wenckebach cycle length (WB-CL) was observed in both groups (310 +/- 9 to 351 +/- 15 ms in group 1, and 325 +/- 8 to 369 +/- 9 ms in group 2, P < 0.05). A decrease in the fast pathway (FP) ERP (339 +/- 15 to 279 +/- 12 ms) and an increase in the maximum FP AH interval (141 +/- 5 to 171 +/- 7) were observed only in group 1 (P < 0.05). In group 2, no change in the SP ERP (267 +/- 7 to 280 +/- 10 ms) was observed, and the change in the maximum SP-AH following ablation showed a significant inverse relation to the maximum SP-AH at baseline in group 2. In conclusion, (1) an increase in the WB-CL is observed independent of the persistence or elimination of dual physiology after successful ablation; (2) when dual physiology is eliminated, significant changes in the FP ERP and the maximum FP-AH occur; (3) when dual physiology persists, FP physiology and the SP ERP remain unchanged, and a significant inverse relation between the change in the maximum SP-AH following ablation and the maximum baseline SP-AH is observed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals, Otto-von Guericke University, Leipzigerstr. 44, D-39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Christoph.Geller@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Geller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goette
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reek
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Funke
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Hartung
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome