Current case mix and results of catheter ablation of regular supraventricular tachycardia: are we giving unrealistic expectations to patients?
OBJECTIVE
Catheter ablation (CA) has become the treatment of choice for regular supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the current clinical results in a large single centre are as good as success rates quoted to patients from published trials and national cardiology society websites.


RESULTS
We recorded and analysed prospectively the acute and follow-up (FU) results of all CA procedures performed for SVT at our institution over a 2-year period. We compared our results with the success rates of 90-98% for CA quoted in the literature. We performed a total of 547 CA at our institution over 2 years, of which 389 (71%) were for regular SVT. Of these, 71 procedures (18%) were redo procedures. The overall acute procedural success rate was 96.1% (374/389). Follow-up data were available for 367 of 389 (94.3%) procedures. The overall 6-week success rate varied between 74.7 and 91.3% depending on the SVT type (average 83.9%). The FU success rates were lower for redo procedures (47/66, 71.2%) when compared with first ablation (de novo) procedures (261/301, 86.7%), P = 0.003.


CONCLUSIONS
Published success rates are much better than current success rates in a large single centre. It is possible that the information regarding outcome given to patients during the consent process is not accurate.
Showkathali
Refai
R
Department of Cardiology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Dominion House, West Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE, UK.
Earley
Mark J
MJ
Gupta
Dhiraj
D
Alzetani
Maysaa
M
Harris
Stuart
S
Kistler
Peter M
PM
Sporton
Simon C
SC
Schilling
Richard J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome