title: Radiofrequency ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: the risk of intraprocedural, late and long-term atrioventricular block. The Veneto Region multicenter experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiofrequency ablation of either the fast or the slow pathway in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) can be complicated by transient or permanent atrioventricular (AV) block. Little is known about the possibility of AV block occurring during the first weeks after the procedure and nothing about the risk of AV block during the long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  To clarify these latter points, from February 1990 to December 2000 we enrolled 510 consecutive patients (56 males, 454 females, mean age 55 +/- 16 years) with AVNRT. The target of ablation was the fast pathway in 29 patients (group A) and the slow pathway in 474 (group B), while in 7 (group C) the slow pathway was targeted after unsuccessful fast pathway ablation. Follow-up was available for 488/510 (95.6%). The length of follow-up was 8.2 +/- 2.4 years in group A, 3.4 +/- 2.4 years in group B (83 group B patients had a follow-up > 6 years: 7.3 +/- 0.8 years), and 7.3 +/- 2.4 years in group C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success rates were 93, 99 and 100% in the three groups respectively. Intraprocedural II-III degree AV block occurred in 6/29 patients (20%) of group A, in 11/474 patients (2.3%) of group B and in 3/7 patients (42%) of group C. In all patients of groups A and C, the II-III degree AV block was transient. In contrast, in 6/474 patients of group B (1.2%, 2 II degree and 4 III degree AV block) the block still persisted at the end of the procedure. Within 7 days of the procedure, a late persistent II-III degree AV block developed in 1/29 patients (3.4%, 1 III degree) of group A, in 1/474 patients (0.2%, 1 II degree) of group B and in 0/7 patients of group C. In 1 out of 6 patients of group B who developed an intraprocedural persistent AV block, 1:1 conduction resumed within the first week. A definitive pacemaker was implanted for permanent III degree AV block in 1/29 patients of group A (3.4%), in 4/474 patients (0.8%) of group B and in 0/7 patients of group C. In the remaining 2/474 group B patients with permanent II degree AV block, a pacemaker was not implanted. During follow-up, no patient presented with a II-III degree AV block related to the ablation. In group B, 2 patients received a pacemaker implant for reasons unrelated to the ablation (1 sick sinus syndrome, 1 progressive intraventricular conduction disease).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of permanent AV block in patients who undergo fast or slow pathway ablation is low and limited to the procedure or to the days immediately after the procedure, and there is no risk of II-III degree AV block during long-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Civic Hospital, Conegliano, TV, Italy. pdelise@ulss7pieve.veneto.it
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delise
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sitta
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zoppo
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corò
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verlato
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mantovan
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sciarra
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cannarozzo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fantinel
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonso
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertaglia
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Este
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000601:surgery*