The purpose of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of accessory pathways (APs) and to identify predictive factors of acute result and outcome. The patient population included 173 patients who had undergone ablation of an AP. The success rate was 91.6%, a major complication occurred in 4 patients (2.3%) and 8 patients (4.9%) developed a recurrence after a successful ablation procedure. Only one factor predicted success (sex), tow variables predicted development of a major complication (septal AP, age < 16 years), and three factors predicted arrhythmia recurrence (mid septal, right free wall, and multiple APs).
Conclusion: The results of this study may serve to identify sub-groups of patients most likely to have a favourable result in whom it would be reasonable for clinicians to recommend catheter ablation as first-line therapy.