BACKGROUND In atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardias (AVNRT), the achievement of Junctional Rhythms (JR) during Radiofrequency Ablation (RF) is a sensitive but non-specific marker of success. Our aim is to analyze prospectively the predictors of non-inducibility of AVNRT, focusing on the characteristics of the JR. METHODS We included 75 patients with reproducibly inducible AVNRT. Abla...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to test the electrophysiological effects of continuous enhanced vagal tone on dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal and accessory pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS This study included 10 patients with typical, slow-fast AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and 10 patients with AV reciprocating tachycardia. Electrophysiological data were measured before and during...

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia is the most common mechanism of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia in adults and is relatively uncommon in children. While the precise anatomy of the reentry circuit underlying AVNRT and relative role of the atrioventricular node and extranodal atrial inputs remain controversial, the electrophysiologic mechanism of the arrhythmia involving the c...

BACKGROUND Recurrent supraventricular arrhythmias may cause remodelling of the atria. The effects of radiofrequency (RF) ablation of these arrhythmias on left atrial function have not been well established. AIM To evaluate the effects of RF ablation on left atrial systolic function in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular tachycardia (AVRT). ...

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate whether pericardial effusion (PE) detected by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was clinically significant and whether routine echocardiography was necessary after catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODS A total of 202 patients with AVNRT were included in the study from three centers. The patien...

INTRODUCTION LocaLisa is a novel system for anatomical mapping. It enables an assessment of the three-dimensional position of electrodes within cardiac chambers without fluoroscopy. With this technique it may be possible to reduce radiation exposure during catheter-based ablation procedures. AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ablation procedures performed using the LocaLisa mapping sy...

BACKGROUND Data on the incidence and significance of catheter-induced trauma to fast and slow pathways are scarce. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the incidence, predictors, and clinical implications of inadvertent catheter-induced mechanical trauma to fast and slow pathways during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODS A total of 901 consecutive...

AIMS The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in a large series of patients with typical (slow-fast) atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODS AND RESULTS Between 2003 and 2007, 312 patients with typical AVNRT--median age of 53 years (range 10-92), 200 women (64%)--underwent cryoablation, using exclusively a 6 mm tip catheter tip. A...

AIMS Radiofrequency (RF) ablation requires placement of several catheters at critical positions. The catheters are positioned with fluoroscopy, resulting in a significant radiation exposure. We have investigated to what degree an intracardiac navigation system reduces the fluoroscopy duration in different groups of routine RF ablations. METHODS AND RESULTS The fluoroscopy time was evaluated i...

BACKGROUND The safety and efficacy of selective fast versus slow pathway ablation using radiofrequency energy and a transcatheter technique in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) were evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS Forty-nine consecutive patients with symptomatic AVNRT were included. There were 37 women and 12 men (mean age, 43 +/- 20 years). The first 16 patien...