Refractory supraventricular reentry tachycardia treated by radiofrequency atrial pacemaker

The authors report on a case of drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardia with frequent and long-lasting paroxysmal attacks. Electrophysiologic study revealed that the supraventricular tachycardia was based on a reentry circuit. The attack was regularly induced by premature delay 340-400 ms atrial stimulation and it could always be terminated by rapid atrial stimulation within 1-2 seconds. Atrioventricular 2:1 block occurred with very rapid atrial stimulation of greater than 190/min. The patient received a radiofrequency atrial pacemaker, and at the first sign of a tachyarrhythmia he switched on the instrument for 1-2 sec, and the attack was promptly terminated.