RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION FOR SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIAS: EXPERIENCE AT PESHAWAR

Authors

  • Zahid Aslam Awan
  • Mohammad Irfan
  • Bakhtawar Shah
  • Lubna Noor
  • Sher Bahadar Khan
  • Faisal Amin

Abstract

Background: Drug therapy is mostly employed in the management of supraventriculartachycardias (SVTs). However, radiofrequency catheter ablation has been found to be highlyeffective and safe in the treatment of SVTs. The current study is aimed at sharing ourexperience of 320 patients who presented with SVTs, and were treated with radiofrequencycatheter ablation. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in the CardiacElectrophysiology Laboratory of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from October 2006 toDecember 2009. Standard 4-wire electrophysiological study was carried out to identify themechanism of SVT in 320 consecutive patients. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was used tointerrupt the tachycardia circuit. Results: Out of a total 320 patients who underwentelectrophysiologic study, 168 were found to have atrioventricular nodal re-entry as underlyingmechanism; 121 patients were having accessory pathway responsible for re-entry (of these 95presented with orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia and 26 as antidromic reciprocatingtachycardia); 19 patients were having focal atrial tachycardia, 4 atrial fibrillation and 8 atrialflutter as the underlying cause for SVT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was used with anoverall success of 94% and a complication risk of complete AV block in 0.3% and recurrencerate of 3%. Conclusion: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is safe and highly effective mode oftreatment of SVTs.Keywords: Catheter ablation, Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), Wolf Parkinson White (WPW)Syndrome

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Published

2009-12-01

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