Catheter-induced atrioventricular nodal block during radiofrequency ablation

This study examined the incidence and significance of catheter-induced atrioventricular nodal block (AVNB) during a radiofrequency ablation procedure that uses stiff large-tip steerable ablation catheters. AVNB was noted in 10 (1.6%) of 613 consecutive patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation therapy for atrioventricular nodal (AVN) reentrant tachycardia (592 patients) or atrioventricular reentry tachycardia incorporating a midseptal accessory pathway (21 patients). Of these 10 patients, 9 underwent AVN modification for AVN reentrant tachycardia and 1 for ablation of a midseptal accessory pathway. One patient had two episodes of AVNB during two sessions undertaken because of recurrence of tachycardia. No patient had a preexisting conduction defect before the study. In all 10 patients, AVNB was transient, and it lasted for a mean of 9.1 +/- 19 minutes. It occurred during positioning of the ablation catheter in the junctional area before (8 patients) or after (2 patients) the start of radiofrequency current applications. Complete AVNB was noted on six occasions, second-degree AVNB on four occasions, and first-degree AVNB on one occasion. All blocks were associated with narrow QRS ventricular beats and with a site of block proximal to the His bundle. The mean ventricular heart rate during AVNB was 60 +/- 23 beats/min. Two patients had transient asystole, with one having loss of consciousness. No patient required special treatment for heart block. One-to-one conduction resumed after repositioning of the catheters, and the subsequent ablation procedure was successfully completed in 8 of the 10 patients. During a follow-up of 20 +/- 12 months, none of the patients had severe dizziness or syncope, and none required implantation of a permanent pacemaker. In conclusion, transient AVNB due to mechanical injury occurs during positioning of a stiff large-tip steerable ablation catheter in the junctional area. Delivery of radiofrequency current to the site that provokes catheter-induced AVNB should be avoided.