title: 10-year follow-up after radiofrequency ablation of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias from right ventricular outflow tract.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of ventricular arrhythmias from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) during long-term follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A follow-up analysis was conducted using an in-house questionnaire, as well as a qualitative assessment of the patients' medical records. The study population of 34 patients had a previous diagnosis of idiopathic VT or frequent PVCs from the RVOT, and received RFA treatment between 2002 and 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main symptoms prior to RFA were palpitations (82.4%) and dizziness (76.5%). A reduction in symptoms following RFA was reported by 91.2% of patients (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a reduced use of antiarrhythmic medication after RFA (p < 0.001). General health perception classified on a scale of 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent), improved from median class 1 to 3 (p < 0.001) during long-term follow-up. The fitness to work increased from median class 3 to class 5 (1 = incapacitated, 5 = full time employment, p = 0.038), while the rate of patients in full time employment increased from 26.5% to 55.9% after RFA (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A reduction of symptoms and use of antiarrhythmic medication, as well as an improvement in the general health perception and fitness to work after RFA of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias can be demonstrated at ten-year follow-up.
authors: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: sro090@student.uib.no.
authors: Synne Dragesund
authors: SD
authors: Rørvik
authors: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway; Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Jian.chen@uib.no.
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Per.hoff@helse-bergen.no.
authors: Per Ivar
authors: PI
authors: Hoff
authors: Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Eivind.solheim@helse-bergen.no.
authors: Eivind
authors: E
authors: Solheim
authors: Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5020, Bergen, Norway; Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021, Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: Peter.schuster@uib.no.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Schuster
keywords: Catheter ablation; Follow-up; Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia; Premature ventricular contractions