[Ablation therapy of type I atrial flutter with radiofrequency]

PURPOSE--To present initial experience on radiofrequency (RF) ablation of atrial flutter (AFL) guided by anatomic and electrophysiologic parameters. METHODS--Eight patients (six males), mean-age of 42 +/- 17.5 years with chronic type I AFL (mean cycle length of 251 +/- 14.3 msec, range 240 to 280 msec) were undergone to RF catheter ablation applied between inferior vena cava (IVC) and tricuspid annulus (TA). Two had persistent and two the paroxysmal form. Two had surgical corrected congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect in 2 and ventricular septal defect in 1). Four had systolic dysfunction and 2, an atrial tachycardia associated with the AFL. RESULTS--Areas of slow conduction represented by fractionated potentials were recorded between IVC and TA in all patients. RF ablation was successful in 8/8 patients (100%). The mean number of RF applications was 9.2 +/- 6.2 (4-24). The successful ablation site was located in the isthmus between IVC and TA in seven patients and in the lateral wall in the patient with ASD. Successful sites had an early atrial activation preceding the atrial electrogram (range from -65 to -82 ms). In one patient the RF energy was successfully delivered between the atriotomy scar (AS) and IVC. After three months follow-up six remained free of recurrent AFL. One pt had type 1 AFL recurrence and one with ASD had a type II AFL. The Type II AFL was successfully ablated between AS and IVC. CONCLUSION--Fractionated potentials were commonly observed between IVC and T; AFL ablation can be guided by anatomic landmarks or electrophysiologic parameters; electrograms recorded at successful sites were early and never fractionated; the long-term evaluation must be analyzed prospectively.