Radiofrequency catheter ablation of patients with permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia and long-term follow-up results

Background: Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT) is an infrequent form of atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia. We report the clinical and electrophysiological properties of PJRT and outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) in a large group of patients.

Methods: We included 62 patients with the diagnosis of PJRT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in all.

Results: Location of accessory pathway was right posteroseptal in 37 (59,7%) cases, right midseptal in 3 (4,8%), left posterior in 7 (11,3%), left lateral in 5 (8,1%), left posterolateral in 3 (4,8%), left anterolateral in 2 (3,2%), left posteroseptal in 2 (3,2%), middle cardiac vein in 2 (3,2%), and left coronary cusp in 1 (1,6%). Single procedure success rate was 90.3%. None of patients had recurrence during follow-up after repeat ablations. Overall long-term success rate was 98.4%. Left ventricular systolic function recovered in all patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC).

Conclusion: Retrograde decremental accessory pathways are mainly located in posteroseptal region. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a safe and effective approach in patients with PJRT.