Radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways in the dog: the Italian experience (2008-2016)

Accessory pathways (APs) in dogs are mostly right-sided, display nondecremental conduction, and mediate atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardias (AVRTs). Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is considered the first-line therapy in human patients to abolish electrical conduction along APs.

Seventy-six consecutive client-owned dogs.

Retrospective study to describe the precise anatomical distribution and the electrophysiologic characteristics of APs in a large population of dogs and to evaluate long-term success and complication rates of RFCA.

Eighty-three APs were identified in 76 dogs (92.1% with single APs and 7.9% with multiple APs); 96.4% were right-sided, 3.6% left-sided. Conduction along the APs was unidirectional and retrograde in 68.7% of the cases and bidirectional in 31.3%. Accessory pathways presented retrograde decremental properties in 6.5% of the cases. They mediated orthodromic AVRT in 92.1% of the cases and permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia in 6.5%. In one case, no AVRT could be induced. In 97.4% of dogs, RFCA was attempted with an acute success rate of 100%. In 7.7% of cases, recurrence of the tachycardia occurred within 18 months, followed by a second definitively successful ablation. A major complication requiring pacemaker implantation was identified in 2.6% of dogs.

Accessory pathway distribution and electrophysiologic properties in these 76 dogs were similar to previous report. Long-term success and complication rates of RFCA in dogs appeared very similar to results of humans.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of APs can be performed with a high success rate and low incidence of complications.