Background: Although the short-term results after radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), accessorry pathway (AP), atrioventricular junction (AVJ) and common atrial flutter (Aflu) have been widely reported, there is insufficient data on long-term outcome.
Aim: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of RF ablation of cardiac arrhythmias in a single center.
Methods: The study population consisted of 349 consecutive patients (mean age 49.5 years) who underwent RF ablation of AP (136 patients), AVNRT (105 patients), AVJ (86 patients) or Aflu (15 patients). In 4 patients two AP and in 3 patients AP and AVNRT were ablated during the same session. The patients were subsequently followed-up for an average of 44.3 months (12-76 months).
Results: Ablation was successful in 341 patients (97.7%). Major complications occurred in 8 patients (2.3%) and included av block (6 patients), ventricular fibrillation (1 patient) and cardiac tamponade (1 patient). Tachycardia recurrences were observed in 21 patients (6.2%) after successful ablation. All the recurrences occurred within 10 months (mean 2.3 months) after ablation. The recurrence rate was 5.8% (6 patients) in the AVNRT group, 9.2% (12 patients) in the AP group, 1.2% in the AVJ group (1 patient) and 13% (2 patients) in the Aflu group. The differences between groups were insignifficant.
Conclusions: (1) The immediate success rate of RF ablation of AVNRT, AP, AVJ or Aflu was high and there was a low incidence of complications. (2) The recurrence rate during long-term observation is low. (3). All the recurrences occurred within 10 months after successful ablation.