title: Slow pathway catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia guided by electroanatomical mapping: a randomized comparison to the conventional approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electroanatomical mapping may be expected to improve safety, efficiency and efficacy of selective slow pathway ablation for atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The goal of this prospective randomized study was to compare the efficiency of conventional fluoroscopic and electroanatomical mapping in guiding catheter ablation of AVNRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following induction of typical AVNRT, 20 consecutive patients were randomized to either conventional fluoroscopic or electroanatomical (CARTO) mapping to guide slow pathway ablation using a 4mm electrode. Endpoints for ablation were non-inducibility and no more than a single AV nodal echo on aggressive retesting. Acute procedural success was 100% in both groups, with no complications. Although there were no differences in time taken for pre- and post-ablation electrophysiological evaluations, in the electroanatomical group the ablation portion of the procedure showed a substantial reduction in duration (12.6+/-6.8 vs 35.9+/-18.3 min; P< 0.001) and fluoroscopic exposure (0.7+/-0.5 vs 9.6+/-5.0 min; P< 0.001) compared with the fluoroscopic group, reflected in reduced total procedure time (83.6+/-23.6 vs 114+/-19.3 min; P=0.008) and total fluoroscopic exposure (4.2+/-1.4 vs 15.9+/-6.4 min; P< 0.001). Electroanatomical mapping was associated with a lower number (2.7+/-1.6 vs 5+/-2.8; P=0.018), duration (165.3+/-181.6 vs 341+/-177.7s; P=0.013), and total energy delivery (24.3+/-3.1 vs 28.7+/-4.5 watts; P=0.042) of RF applications. There were no acute or long-term (8.9+/-2.2 month) complications or arrhythmia recurrence in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While both conventional and non-fluoroscopic electroanatomical mapping are associated with excellent results in guiding ablation of typical AVNRT, the latter offers significantly shorter procedure and fluoroscopy times, improving the efficiency of the procedure and reducing X-ray exposure.
authors.affiliation: American Cardiovascular Research Institute & Atlanta Cardiology Group, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Kopelman
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Prater
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tondato
authors.forename: N A F
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Chronos
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors