Simplified approach to radiofrequency catheter ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the safety and efficacy of a simplified approach in radiofrequency catheter ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.


METHODS
The study involved 239 patients (118 men and 121 women) with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and normal 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) findings at sinus rhythm, who visited the Cardiology Department of Weifang Medical College Hospital between January 2000 and September 2003. The mean age of patients was 39.2+/-11.9 years. The patients were divided into two groups: one undergoing a conventional 5-catheter ablation (controls), and the other a simplified 3-catheter ablation (study group). The follow up after ablation lasted 12 months. No antiarrhythmic agents were prescribed to the patients with successful ablation.


RESULTS
The conventional and the 3-catheter ablation group did not differ in ablation success (97.5% vs 98.3%, p=0.42) and recurrence of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (2.5% vs 3.3%, p=0.23). The simplified approach was associated with a significantly shorter procedure duration (89.1+/-28.2 vs 96.1+/-21.2 minutes, p<0.01) and fluoroscopy time (10.7+/-2.6 vs 12.7+/-4.2 minutes, p<0.01). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the type and incidence of procedural complications and ablation success.


CONCLUSIONS
The simplified 3-catheter ablation approach proved to be a safe and effective method for ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. However, further studies including larger sample of such patients are needed to assess the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of this simplified procedure.
Wang
Lexin
L
School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia. lwang@csu.edu.au
Li
Jingtian
J
Yao
Rongguo
R
Song
Shukai
S
D000328:Adult; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012449:Safety; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000628:therapy*; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome