Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of the slow pathway in atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is associated with high efficacy and low risk of total perioperative or late atrioventricular block. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of slow-pathway RFCA for AVNRT using a zero-fluoroscopy approach.
Methods: Data were obtained from a prospective multicenter registry of catheter ablation from January 2012 to February 2018. Consecutive unselected patients with the final diagnosis of AVNRT were recruited. Electrophysiological and 3-dimensional (3D) electroanatomical mapping systems were used to create 3D maps and to navigate only 2 catheters from the femoral access. Acute procedural efficacy was evaluated using the isoproterenol and/or atropine test, with 15-min observation after ablation. Each case of recurrence or complication was consulted at an outpatient clinic during long-term follow-up.
Results: Of the 1032 procedures, 1007 (97.5%) were completed without fluoroscopy. Conversion to fluoroscopy was required in 25 patients (2.5%), mainly due to an atypical location of the coronary sinus (n = 7) and catheter instability (n = 7). The mean radiation exposure time was 1.95 ± 1.3 min for these cases. The mean fluoroscopy time for the entire study cohort was 0.05 ± 0.4 min. The mean total procedure time was 44.8 ± 18.6 min. There were no significant in-hospital complications. The total success rate was 96.1% (n = 992), and the recurrence rate was 3.9% (n = 40).
Conclusion: Slow-pathway RFCA can be safely performed without fluoroscopy, with a minimal risk of complications and a high success rate.
Keywords: Ablation; Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia; Electroanatomical mapping; Radiation exposure; Zero-fluoroscopy approach.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.