Comparison of minimal versus zero-fluoroscopic catheter ablation in gestational supraventricular arrhythmias

The management of symptomatic gestational supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management. Catheter ablation during pregnancy has traditionally been considered a last option due to procedural safety and ionizing radiation risks. Recent advances including intracardiac echocardiography and multi-electrode electroanatomic mapping have greatly enhanced the safety and efficacy profile to successfully perform ablations with minimal to no fluoroscopy even during pregnancy. This is the first review to compare the efficacy, safety, and aggregate outcomes of purely zero-fluoroscopic and minimal fluoroscopic approaches in gestational SVT.

A literature search was performed for catheter ablations in the past 15 years for gestational arrhythmias that used minimal or no fluoroscopy. Sixteen cases describing catheter ablations with zero-fluoroscopy were compared to twenty-four cases using minimal fluoroscopy, defined as total documented exposure time of less than 10 min.

Analysis of both groups demonstrated that zero-fluoroscopic approaches have comparable efficacy and procedural safety outcomes with the utilization of earlier trimester ablations and in older maternal ages. The utilization of electroanatomic mapping with or without concomitant intracardiac echocardiography in the zero-fluoroscopy group further demonstrated equal efficacy rates of successful ablation when compared to the control group. Furthermore, there were no reported immediate or long-term periprocedural complications in either group, including delivery outcomes.

Our review demonstrates that zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation for SVT in pregnancy is both effective and safe when compared to minimal fluoroscopy ablations while eliminating the theoretical risks of ionizing radiation.