Simmons T W, Nagi H M, Wilkoff B L, Morant V A, Sterba R, Castle L W, Maloney J D
Department of Cardiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195.
Cleve Clin J Med. 1991 May-Jun;58(3):223-8. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.58.3.223.
The initial and long-term results of transcatheter electrical ablation in 29 patients with drug-refractory supraventricular tachyarrhythmias were analyzed. Ablation was immediately successful (defined as induction of chronic complete heart block) in 25 patients (86.2%). Among the group in whom ablation was unsuccessful, there were more patients with ectopic atrial tachycardia and a higher incidence of narrow QRS escape rhythm following the initial ablation. A His amplitude equal to or greater than 0.3 mV was correlated with success. Complications of ablation included deep venous thrombosis and ventricular arrhythmias. Post-ablation stress testing was superior to ambulatory monitoring in identifying early return of atrioventricular conduction.
