Late ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death following direct-current catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction

Am J Cardiol. 1992 Sep 15;70(7):765-8. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(92)90556-e.

Abstract

Early reports of direct-current catheter ablation (DCCA) of the atrioventricular (AV) junction for resistant AV tachycardias documented efficacy of DCCA with little morbidity. Nine patients underwent DCCA at our institution 4 to 9 years ago: 3 patients had DCCA in the coronary sinus for permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia, 2 patients had His ablation, 2 had coronary sinus and His ablation for permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia, and 2 had DCCA for congenital tachycardia, and 2 had DCCA for congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia. Shocks (total 1 to 5) ranged from 12.5 to 400 J. Five patients had pacemaker implant at the time of DCCA. During follow-up, 3 patients developed clinical ventricular tachycardia: all 3 had DCCA of the His bundle. One asymptomatic patient with ventricular tachycardia, who had DCCA of the bundle of His, died suddenly 6 years later with ventricular fibrillation. Autopsy revealed 2 ventricular scars: 1 extending from the AV junction and 1 in the outflow tract. No patient with DCCA limited to the coronary sinus developed ventricular tachycardia. DCCA of the His bundle can result in late ventricular arrhythmias, possibly a result of extension of the DCCA lesion into the ventricle. These late findings should be considered in evaluating the safety and efficacy and follow-up for patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation.

MeSH terms

  • Atrioventricular Node / surgery*
  • Bundle of His / surgery
  • Child
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / epidemiology
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology*
  • Electrocoagulation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Pacemaker, Artificial
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tachycardia / epidemiology
  • Tachycardia / etiology*
  • Tachycardia / surgery
  • Time Factors