Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an effective rhythm control strategy, and its efficacy has been proved to be superior to anti-arrhythmic drugs.1-3) Recently, the European Society of Cardiology’s 2010 revised guidelines for AF management suggested catheter ablation as the firstline treatment in patients with paroxysmal lone AF.4) When Haissaguerre et al.5) initial...

The era of catheter ablation for the treatment of arrhythmias began in 1981, when Dr. Melvin Scheinman performed the first atrioventricular junction ablation using direct-current shocks in a patient with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation and an uncontrolled ventricular rate.1 Because of the barotrauma associated with intracardiac high-energy shocks, direct-current catheter ablation played onl...

The era of catheter ablation for the treatment of arrhythmias began in 1981 when Dr. Melvin Scheinman performed the first atrioventricular junction ablation using direct current shocks in a patient with drug refractory atrial fibrillation and an uncontrolled ventricular rate.1 Because of the barotrauma associated with intracardiac, high energy shocks, direct current catheter ablation played onl...

Arrhythmias figure prominently among the complications encountered in the varied and diverse population of patients with congenital heart disease, and are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The incidence generally increases as the patient ages, with multifactorial predisposing features that may include congenitally malformed or displaced conduction systems, altered hemodynamics, mech...

BACKGROUND Despite technical refinements and improved long-term efficacy of the ablation procedure for treating AFL (AFL), the subsequent occurrence of AF (AF) following this procedure remains a significant clinical problem. OBJECTIVES To determine long-term incidence and predictors of AF after catheter ablation of typical AFL. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between March 2005 and February 2010, a to...

BACKGROUND Ablation of complex arrhythmias would be greatly facilitated by more precise control of ablation catheters. A feasibility study was performed in animals to evaluate a novel magnetic guidance system (MGS) that generates a magnetic field to control the movement and position of a magnetic ablation catheter. METHODS AND RESULTS The MGS is composed of a digital biplanar fluoroscope with...

PURPOSE Although rare, children and young adults can suffer from significant cardiac arrhythmia, especially in the context of congenital malformations and after cardiac surgery. METHODS A total of 62 patients (32 female, median age 20 years) underwent an invasive electrophysiology study between 2008-2011: half had normal cardiac anatomy, whereas the remaining patients had various types of con...

AIMS Although arrhythmia surgery and radiofrequency catheter ablation to cure atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia differ in technical concept, the late results of both methods, in terms of elimination of the arrhythmogenic substrate and procedure-related new and different arrhythmias, have never been compared. This constituted the purpose of this prospective follow-up study. METHODS ...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). During PVI an electrical conduction block between pulmonary vein (PV) and left atrium (LA) is created. This conduction block prevents AF, which is triggered by irregular electric activity originating from the PV. However, transmural atrial lesions are required which can be challenging. Re-conduct...