[Electrode catheter ablation of the atrioventricular node. Clinical report]

Electrode catheter ablation may be used to treat supraventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to medical treatment. Initially it was used to treat atrial fibrillation with rapid A-V conduction and later for ablation of para-septal abnormal bundles or ventricular tachycardia foci. A patient with advanced chronic air flow limitation developed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response and heart failure. Drugs and cardioversion failed in controlling the arrhythmia. Partial electrode catheter ablation of the A-V node was followed by a decrease of ventricular rate from 170 to 90 per min associated to an improvement of heart failure.