The Experience of Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Multiple Accessory Pathways

Objective To analyse retrospectively the experience of radiofrequency ablation for successful treatment of multiple accessory pathways (APS). Methods 150 patients with supraventricu-lar tachycardia related to APS have undergone radiofrequency ablation since 1994; the data was analysed. Results 8 patients with multiple APS were cured, 4 patients could be diagnosed to have multiple APS during electrophysiologic study (EPS) before ablation, and in the remaining 4 patients the multiple APS could only be diagnosed after successful ablation of one AP. Conclusion right - sided multiple APS are sometimes very difficult to treat by ablation, because there are no standard reference electrograms for bracketing the earliest site. Mapping area should be broader rather than limited by preestablished idea.

Manifold benefits of choosing a minimally fluoroscopic catheter ablation approach

We report the case of a 14-year-old boy with ventricular preexcitation. A standard, fluoroscopy guided, ablation procedure was successfully performed in a postero-midseptal region with a total fluoroscopy time of about 45 min (2430 cGy.cm2). A few hours after the procedure, preexcitation reappeared. A second ablation procedure was scheduled using the EnSite NavXTM mapping system. During mapping along the tricuspid groove, preexcitation suddenly disappeared due to mechanical "bumping" of the accessory pathway and it did not recover over the next 30 min. As per our routine practice, the phase of geometry reconstruction has been continuously recorded by the system; thus, an off-line analysis allowed to pinpoint the site of earliest activation and the site of mechanical bumping, where radiofrequency obtained the accessory pathway ablation. The second procedure was performed without using fluoroscopy at all. Thanks to the geometry reconstruction, the procedure was completely successful thus avoiding a further rehospitalization.

Effect of Accessory Pathway Conduction on PJ Interval in Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Objective To observe the effect of accessory pathway (AP) conduction on PJ interval in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Methods 129 patients with a single manifestation of AP who underwent successful radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) were included. Patients were divided into 10 groups according to AP location. The PR intervals, QRS durations and the PJ intervals were measured using simultaneous 12-lead ECG before and after ablation. The PJ intervals before ablation were compared with that after ablation. The atrioventricular (AV) conduction time via atrioventricular node-His conduction system before ablation were compared with the PR intervals after ablation. The ventricular depolarization time via atrioventricular node-His conduction system before ablation were compared with the QRS durations after ablation. Delta waves were compared between each two groups. Results (1) The PJ intervals of right posterior (RP) group and right posteroseptal (RPS) group before ablation were shorter than that after ablation (RP group 226±18 ms vs 236±19 ms, P<0.01, RPS group 221±18 ms vs 238±31 ms, P<0.05, respectively). (2) There were no significant differences between the atrioventricular (AV) conduction time via atrioventricular node-His conduction system before ablation and the PR intervals after ablation. (3)The ventricular depolarization time via atrioventricular node-His conduction system of RP group and RPS group before ablation were shorter than the PR intervals after ablation(RP group 79±12 ms vs 87±9 ms, P=0.01; RPS group 70±13 ms vs 86±9 ms, P<0.05, respectively). (4)The delta waves of RP group and RPS group were longer than that of left posterior group and left posteroseptal group(P<0.05). Conclusion PJ interval is shortened by AP conduction which pre-excites the general last excited part of left ventricle. It is determined by AP location and the extent of preexcitation.