Long-term follow-up in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia after catheter modification of the slow pathway

Objective To evaluate the long-term results of radiofrequeny catheter ablation(RFCA) of the slow pathway for the treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia(AVNRT).Methods The study included 184 patients [82 men and 102 women, mean age (48.8±15.2)years].After RFCA, these patients were followed up for a mean of (32±26)months. PR interval of electrocardiogram and Holter monitoring, AVNRT recurrence, complications and quality of life were investigated during the follow-up.ResultsThe success rate was 99.5%(183/184),and the AVNRT recurrence was 3.80% (7/184)after RFCA on the slow pathway,in which 3 patients in a week and 4 patients more than 6 months developed AVNRT recurrence after the procedure. There was first-degree AV block in 5 patients (2.7%) documented by electrocardiogram and in 9 patients(7.6%) revealed during Holter monitoring. Second-degree AV-block occurred in 2 patients. There was no complete AV block found during the long-term follow-up. 95.1% patinents were free of symptoms after the ablation procedure.Conclusion RFCA of the AV nodal slow pathway is a safe and effective therapy for patients with AVNRT. During a long-term follow-up patients have improved quality of life after the procedure.