Feasibility, efficacy, and safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias: a twelve-year experience in Thailand.

BACKGROUND

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is widely accepted as a curative treatment for many types of cardiac arrhythmias.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The authors retrospectively reviewed 1,193 cases (mean age 45, 41% male) performed in the electrophysiology laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital from 1996 to 2007. Success rate, recurrence rate and complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

Ablations of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT, 428 cases, 35.9%) and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT, 346 cases, 29%) were the most common procedures. The overall success rate and recurrence rate of RFCA were 88.8% and 6.1% respectively. Complications occurred in 50 patients (4.2%) with 1 death (0.08%). RFCA of AVNRT or AVRT rather than other arrhythmias (Odd ratio 11.46, 95% confidence interval 8.14-16.15, p < 0.001) and adult rather than pediatric patients (Odd ratio for age 1.007, 95% confidence interval 1.003-1.011, p < 0.001) were independent predictors for successful RFCA.

CONCLUSION

RFCA of cardiac arrhythmia in our institution is safe and effective.