Perception and Documentation of Arrhythmias after Successful Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Accessory Pathways

Abstract

94% patients with a long history of tachyarrhythmias due to the WPW syndrome reported improved physical well-being after ablation, but palpitations were common during a 2-year follow-up period; 8% continued to use pharmacological antiarrhythmic treatment. Five percent had symptomatic relapses and in 6% atrial fibrillation episodes reoccurred, i.e., in half of those who had atrial fibrillation before ablation.

The Impact of Supraventricular Tachycardias on Driving Ability in Patients Referred for Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

“…We, therefore, assume that the reported episodes of syncope and/or near‐syncope were not exaggerated, but rather were underestimated. On the other hand, the figures are in the same range as in the work by Woods 7 and our own previous investigation 8 …”

“…On the other hand, the figures are in the same range as in the work by Woods 7 and our own previous investigation. 8 In this study, the use of class IC antiarrhythmic drugs was associated with a higher rate of occurrence for syncope, but the reason for this is unknown. No case of documented ventricular tachycardia was found that would indicate a proarrhythmic effect.…”

“…4,11,12 In a previous retrospective study on 194 patients undergoing successful RF-catheter ablation due to the WPW-syndrome, we reported that as many as 70/194 (36%) had experienced syncope during tachycardia. 8 One possible explanation for this high figure is that the population was from the early days of RF-catheter ablation, and patients selected for treatment had a long and more severe arrhythmia history compared with the present situation.…”

Impact of radiofrequency ablation on health-related quality of life in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia compared with a norm population one year after treatment

“…9 However, there are studies indicating that patients treated successfully with RFA still experience symptoms of arrhythmia during follow-up. 19,32 Long-term HRQOL follow-up gives valuable information about treatment outcome and the life situation after ablation. Overall, there are few studies available comparing these patients with a normative population, and the comparisons made so far were done before RFA.…”

Supraventricular Tachycardia Observed upon Termination of Atrial Flutter:

“…The third beat either is a junctional beat or represents anterograde conduction down a slow pathway (2) to the ventricle. Activation then travels down the bundle branch (3) and retrogradely to the atria through a left lateral bypass tract (4).…”