title: Long-term efficacy of slow-pathway catheter ablation in patients with documented but noninducible supraventricular tachycardia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The long-term efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation of slow pathway in patients with dual atrioventricular node pathway and a documented but noninducible paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is not entirely clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty nine patients (Group A) with documented but noninducible PSVT and dual atrioventricular node pathway were prospectively studied. Programmed electrical stimulation induced a single atrioventricular node echo beat in 13 patients, and double echo beats in 9 at baseline or during isoproterenol infusion. Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of Group A patients were compared with that of age- and gender-matched patients with dual atrioventricular node pathway but inducible PSVT (Group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the electrophysiological properties of the fast and slow pathways between the two groups. Catheter ablation eliminated the slow pathway in all patients. There was no recurrence of PSVT in either Group A or Group B during the follow-up of 38 +/- 5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with dual atrioventricular node pathway and a documented but noninducible PSVT, catheter ablation of slow pathway is highly effective in preventing tachycardia in long term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, People's Republic of China. lwang@csu.edu.au
authors.forename: Lexin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhanying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yanzhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000378:metabolism; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome