Sinus Node Sparing Hybrid Thoracoscopic Ablation Outcomes in Patients with Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia...

Medical treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) remains suboptimal. Radiofrequency sinus node (RF-SN) ablation has poor success and higher complication rates.

We aimed to compare clinical outcomes of the novel SN sparing hybrid ablation technique with those of RF-SN modification for IST management.

This is a multicenter prospective registry comparing the SN sparing hybrid ablation strategy with RF-SN modification. The hybrid procedure was performed using an RF bipolar clamp, isolating superior vena cava/inferior vena cava with the creation of a lateral line across the crista terminalis while sparing the SN region (identified by endocardial 3-dimensional mapping). RF-SN modification was performed by endocardial and/or epicardial mapping and ablation at the site of earliest atrial activation.

Of the 100 patients (hybrid ablation group, n = 50; RF-SN group, n = 50), 82% were women, and the mean age was 22.8 years. Normal sinus rhythm and rate were restored in all patients in the hybrid group (vs 84% in the RF-SN group; P = .006). Hybrid ablation was associated with significantly better improvement in mean daily heart rate and peak 6-minute walk heart rate compared with RF-SN ablation. The RF-SN group had a significantly higher rate of redo procedures (100% vs 8%; P < .001), phrenic nerve injury (14% vs 0%; P = .012), lower acute pericarditis (48% vs 92%; P < .0001), permanent pacemaker implantation (50% vs 4%; P < .0001) than did the hybrid ablation group.

The novel sinus node sparing hybrid ablation procedure appears to be more efficacious and safer in patients with symptomatic drug-resistant IST with long-term durability than RF-SN ablation.