RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION FOR SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIAS: EXPERIENCE AT PESHAWAR
Abstract
Background: Drug therapy is mostly employed in the management of supraventriculartachycardias (SVTs). However, radiofrequency catheter ablation has been found to be highly
effective and safe in the treatment of SVTs. The current study is aimed at sharing our
experience of 320 patients who presented with SVTs, and were treated with radiofrequency
catheter ablation. Methods: This descriptive study was carried out in the Cardiac
Electrophysiology Laboratory of Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from October 2006 to
December 2009. Standard 4-wire electrophysiological study was carried out to identify the
mechanism of SVT in 320 consecutive patients. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was used to
interrupt the tachycardia circuit. Results: Out of a total 320 patients who underwent
electrophysiologic study, 168 were found to have atrioventricular nodal re-entry as underlying
mechanism; 121 patients were having accessory pathway responsible for re-entry (of these 95
presented with orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia and 26 as antidromic reciprocating
tachycardia); 19 patients were having focal atrial tachycardia, 4 atrial fibrillation and 8 atrial
flutter as the underlying cause for SVT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was used with an
overall success of 94% and a complication risk of complete AV block in 0.3% and recurrence
rate of 3%. Conclusion: Radiofrequency catheter ablation is safe and highly effective mode of
treatment of SVTs.
Keywords: Catheter ablation, Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), Wolf Parkinson White (WPW)
Syndrome
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