Control of supraventricular tachycardia with transcatheter ablative technique using radio frequency as the energy...

Supraventricular tachycardia constitutes a significant clinical problem, frequently requiring medical intervention. We analyzed data in 413 consecutive patients with supraventricular tachycardia treated at our center with the catheter ablative technique and found the following outcome. Among 272 patients who had regular narrow QRS tachycardia without ventricular pre-excitation during sinus rhythm (Group I), control was achieved in all but one case (success rate 99.6%). Patients in Group II had ventricular pre-excitation during sinus rhythm and narrow or wide QRS tachycardia. Elimination of ventricular pre-excitation and control of the tachycardia was achieved in 104 of the 106 cases in this group (a success rate of 98%). Group III patients had atrial flutter-fibrillation as the predominate arrhythmia and control of rapid ventricular response was successfully achieved with atrioventricular junctional ablation in all 35 cases. Serious complications were related to anticoagulation and were seen in less than 2% of the cases. There were no instances of thromboembolic phenomena or death related to these procedures. It is concluded that the catheter ablative technique with radio frequency as the energy source is a highly effective means for control of supraventricular tachycardia with minimal associated risk of serious complications.