title: Atrial tachycardias following atrial fibrillation ablation.
abstract: One of the most important proarrhythmic complications after left atrial (LA) ablation is regular atrial tachycardia (AT) or flutter. Those tachycardias that occur after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can cause even more severe symptoms than those from the original arrhythmia prior to the index ablation procedure since they are often incessant and associated with rapid ventricular response. Depending on the method and extent of LA ablation and on the electrophysiological properties of underlying LA substrate, the reported incidence of late ATs is variable. To establish the exact mechanism of these tachycardias can be difficult and controversial but correlates with the ablation technique and in the vast majority of cases the mechanism is reentry related to gaps in prior ablation lines. When tachycardias occur, conservative therapy usually is not effective, radiofrequency ablation procedure is mostly successful, but can be challenging, and requires a complex approach.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sághy
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tutuianu
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology Centre, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 6. 6724 Szeged, Hungary. saghylaszlo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Szilágyi
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy