INTRODUCTION Recent studies have demonstrated that the most common site of accessory pathway conduction block following the introduction of a premature atrial stimulus during atrial pacing is between the accessory pathway potential and the ventricular electrogram, consistent with block at the ventricular insertion of the accessory pathway. However, no prior study has evaluated the site of condu...

Proper localization of the anatomical target during ablation of the accessory pathways (AP) and the ability to detect clear AP potentials on the ablation catheter are crucial for successful AP ablation. We report a case of recurring AP conduction that was finally eliminated using a novel ablation catheter equipped with high-resolution mini-electrodes. Smaller and closer electrodes result in hig...

Frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPC) can result in left ventricular dysfunction. Several case reports have found this association and reversal with radiofrequency ablation [1-4]. Other peculiar problems reported to be due to VPCs and relieved by radiofrequency ablation include intermittent claudication [5], chronic cough with cough syncope [6,7] and dysphagia [8], mostly by the same g...

BACKGROUND The prospective, randomized study comparing 4- with 8-mm tip electrodes for radiofrequency linear ablation of typical atrial flutter is not available. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 104 consecutive patients with typical atrial flutter were randomly assigned to undergo radiofrequency linear ablation using a 4- (Group I, n=54) or 8-mm tip electrode (Group II, n=50) catheter (temperat...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia. Medical treatment often fails to control symptoms. PURPOSE To compare the benefits and harms of radiofrequency catheter ablation and medical therapy in adults with atrial fibrillation. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (2000 to December 2008) were searched for English-language r...

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using a percutaneous catheter is a common approach to treat supraventricular arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently arises from an abnormal focus at or near the junction of the pulmonary veins and the left atrium, thus leading to the feasibility of more focused ablation techniques directed at these structures. Catheter-based ablation, using RFA or cryoabl...

A number of complications have been associated with ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), including arterial thrombo-embolism, pulmonary vein stenosis, phrenic nerve injury, and pericardial tamponade.1–4 Esophageal injury, manifested as esophageal perforation or left atrial-esophageal fistula, has been reported after catheter or surgical ablation of AF using radiofrequency (RF) current5–8 and c...

Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT) patients are resistant to drug therapy and are at risk of cardiomyopathy. The electrocardiogram shows negative P waves in leads II, III, aVF and V3 –V6 and RP interval is longer than PR interval during tachycardia. This report describes a 15 years old female child with PJRT and tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy treated successfully with rad...

I Wellens HJJ, Brugada P, Penn OC, Gorgels AP, Smeets J. Pre-excitation svndromes: clinical presentation, course and therapy. In: Zipes DP, Jalife J, eds. Cardiac electrophvsiology: from cell to bedside. Philadelphia: W B Saunders, 1990:691-702. 2 Klein GJ, Bashore TM, Sellers TD, Pritchett ELC, Smith WM, Gallagher JJ. Ventricular fibrillation in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. N Engl3' Med...

Phrenic nerve injury (PNI) is a rare complication of catheter ablation therapy, most commonly observed in cryoablation of the right side pulmonary veins. We present a case of PNI after radiofrequency catheter ablation that developed acute dyspnea 24 hours after the intervention. Dyspnea is the main symptom of PNI, so the diagnosis should always be suspected if it appears after any type of cathe...