The results of atrial flutter ablation in patients with and without a history of atrial fibrillation.

To determine the impact of atrial flutter radiofrequency catheter ablation on recurrence of atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, 32 patients with atrial flutter (18 with a history of atrial fibrillation) were followed for a mean of 8.6 months; atrial flutter has not recurred after 1 (26 patients) or 2 (5 patients) successful ablation procedures. Atrial flutter did not appear proarrhythmic for atrial fibrillation, with only 1 of 15 patients without a history of atrial fibrillation developing the arrythmia in the absence of an alcohol binge or cocaine use.