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Radiofrequency Ablation of Probable Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia in Children with Documented Supraventricular Tachycardia Without Inducible Tachycardia
Author(s) -
FISHBERGER STEVEN B.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2003.t01-1-00252.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , reentry , supraventricular tachycardia , tachycardia , ablation , electrophysiology study , junctional rhythm , catheter ablation , radiofrequency ablation , nodal signaling , asymptomatic , electrophysiology , atrioventricular node , anesthesia , gastrulation , biochemistry , chemistry , embryonic stem cell , gene
The reproducible induction of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) during electrophysiological study is critical for the diagnosis of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), and for determining a therapeutic endpoint for catheter ablation. In the sedated state, there are patients with reentry SVT due to AVNRT who are not inducible at electrophysiological study. This article reports on the empiric slow pathway modification for AVNRT in six pediatric patients (age 6–17, mean 13.3 years) with documented, recurrent, paroxysmal SVT in the setting of a structurally normal heart who were not inducible at electrophysiological study. Atrial and ventricular burst and extrastimulus pacing at multiple drive cycle lengths were performed in the baseline state, during an isuprel infusion, and during isuprel elimination. Single AV nodal (AVN) echo beats were present in all patients, while classic dual AVN physiology was present in three of six patients. Radiofrequency energy was administered in the right posteroseptal AV groove resulting in accelerated junctional rhythm in five of six patients. Postablation testing demonstrated the elimination of echo beats in four patients, while dual AVN physiology and echo beats persisted in two patients. At follow‐up (22–49 months, mean 29.5 months), all patients are asymptomatic without recurrence of SVT and are not taking any antiarrhythmic medication. In selected patients, empiric slow pathway modification may be offered as a potential cure in children with recurrent paroxysmal SVT who are not inducible at electrophysiological study. Elimination of slow pathway conduction may serve as a surrogate endpoint, though is not necessary for long‐term success. (PACE 2003; 26:1679–1683)