Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the elderly - changing of slow pathway location with aging.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of elderly patients with typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), and to assess the acute safety and efficacy of slow-pathway radiofrequency (RF) ablation in this specific group of patients.


RESULTS
The present study retrospectively included a total of 1,290 patients receiving successful slow-pathway RF ablation for typical slow-fast AVNRT. Patients were divided into 2 groups: group I included 1,148 patients aged <65 years and group II included 142 patients aged >65 years. The required total procedure duration and total fluoroscopy exposure time were significantly higher in group II vs. group I (P=0.005 and P=0.0001, respectively). The number of RF pulses needed for a successful procedural end-point was significantly higher in group II than in group I (4.4 vs. 7.2, P=0.005). While the ratio of the anterior location near to the His-bundle region was significantly higher in group II, the ratio of posterior and midseptal locations were significantly higher in group I (P=0.0001). The overall procedure success rates were similar. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in respect of the complications rates.


CONCLUSIONS
This experience demonstrates that RF catheter ablation, targeting the slow pathway, could be considered as first-line therapy for typical AVNRT patients older than 65 years as well as younger patients, as it is very safe and effective in the acute period of treatment.
Department of Cardiology, Pamukkale University School of Medicine.
Yusuf I
YI
Alihanoglu
Bekir S
BS
Yildiz
Dogu I
DI
Kilic
Harun
H
Evrengul
Sedat
S
Kose
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013615:Tachycardia, Sinoatrial Nodal Reentry / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*