Radiofrequency Current for Catheter Ablation of Accessory Atrioventricular Connections in Children and Adolescents. Emphasis on the Single-Catheter Technique

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 89 (5) ◽  
pp. 930-935
Author(s):  
Michael Schlüter ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kuck

Catheter ablation of an accessory atrioventricular connection using 500-kHz radiofrequency current was attempted in 10 children and adolescents aged between 6 and 15 years (mean 10.5 years). Six children had the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and four had tachyarrhythmias related to a retrograde-only conducting ("concealed") accessory connection. No child had associated structural heart disease. Symptoms ranged from disabling palpitations to episodes of syncope (three patients) and cardiac arrest (one patient). Ablation was attempted from the left ventricle in all children; in one child, ablation of a second, right-sided pathway was attempted via a right atrial approach. Ten of the 11 accessory connections were interrupted successfully. A single complication was encountered in a 10-year-old girl in whom the procedure had to be terminated because a thrombotic occlusion of the right internal iliac artery had evolved. A simplification of the ablation procedure associated with reduced procedure duration and radiation exposure time was achieved in three children with th Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and a left free-wall accessory pathway when a single catheter placed in the left ventricle was used for pathway localization as well as ablation. It is concluded that catheter ablation using radiofrequency current is effective and safe and may supersede surgery as the curative treatment for children with serious symptoms mediated by an accessory atrioventricular connection.

1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Hebe ◽  
Michael Schlüter ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kuck

AbstractCatheter ablation of an accessory atrioventricular pathway using 500 kHz radiofrequency current was attempted in 53 children and young adolescents less than 16 years of age (mean 9.3±4.1 years) who were referred for treatment of symptomatic supraventricular tachycardia. Thirty children had the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and 23 had tachyarrhythmias related to an accessory pathway conducting only in retrograde fashion. Of the latter, seven were found to have the permanent form of junctional reciprocating tachycardia, which had resulted in depressed left ventricular function in four. Ablation of left-sided accessory pathways was usually attempted utilizing an arterial approach to the annulus of the mitral valve, while the venous route to the atrial aspect of the tricuspid valvar annulus was chosen for right-sided accessory connections. To reduce invasiveness and the duration of the procedure, a technique with a solitary catheter was attempted in 20 children with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, regardless of the anatomical site of the accessory pathway. Ablation of 54 of 56 accessory connections was achieved in 51 patients (96% success) with a median of six applications of radiofrequency current. The sessions were completed within 3.4±2.2 hours, with a median exposure to radiation of 31.1 minutes. During a 10-month period of follow- up, no patient required antiarrhythmic medication, and 51 children (96%) were completely free of any symptoms related to arrhythmias. Left ventricular function returned to normal in the four children with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Except for a patient with an arterial thrombotic occlusion, no serious complications were encountered. Catheter ablation using radiofrequency current is a highly effective and safe curative approach for treating young patients with supraventricular tachycardias mediated by accessory pathways. The use of fewer catheters of smaller size is feasible and advisable in this cohort of patients.


2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radu Vatasescu ◽  
Laszlo Kornyei ◽  
Tamas Szili-Torok

Radiofrequency lesions can, theoretically, be the substrate for new persistent arrhythmias. As far as we know, this has never previously been encountered after transcatheter ablation of accessory pathways. A child with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome was referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation of a left-sided accessory pathway. After successful ablation of the accessory pathway using a retrograde transaortic approach, the child developed an incessant wide QRS complex tachycardia at slow rate that was resistant to pharmacologic interventions. The focus of the tachycardia was identical to the ventricular site of insertion of the eliminated accessory pathway.


2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-170
Author(s):  
Seigo Okada ◽  
Jun Muneuchi ◽  
Hideki Origuchi

AbstractA 21-year-old man with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome and aneurysmal septal dyskinesis underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of the accessory pathways. Before radiofrequency catheter ablation, the activation wavefront arose from the aneurysmal septum, whereas the propagation of the left ventricle was normalised after radiofrequency catheter ablation. These findings demonstrate the importance of the electro-mechanical interaction in patients with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome and ventricular dysfunction.


Author(s):  
Dimitrios Karelas ◽  
John Papanikolaou ◽  
Charalampos Kossyvakis ◽  
Dimitrios Platogiannis

Abstract Background Atrial Fibrillation in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome may result in life-threateningly rapid antegrade conduction over a bypass tract, manifested by an irregular broad-complex (pre-excited) tachycardia that can degenerate to ventricular fibrillation. Shortest pre-excited RR interval below 250msec during atrial fibrillation predicts increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Case summary We report a case of a 43-year-old man with unremarkable cardiac history who presented due to sudden-onset feeling of palpitations and pre-syncope after strenuous lifting. Electrocardiography depicted fast pre-excited atrial fibrillation. The shortest pre-excited RR interval was estimated at 160msec, indicating an accessory pathway with short antegrade refractory period at risk for mediating sudden cardiac death. Direct current cardioversion restored sinus rhythm unraveling delta-waves. The patient was put on propafenone 450 mg/day having an uneventful clinical course. On day-10 post-admission, electrophysiological study induced rapid atrial fibrillation but the shortest pre-excited RR interval was substantially increased to 264msec. A left anterolateral accessory pathway was ablated. The patient remained symptom-free until his latest follow-up in the third month post-ablation without manifest pre-excitation on surface electrocardiogram. Discussion Treatment options of pre-excited atrial fibrillation include anti-arrhythmic agents but mainly electrical cardioversion. Cardioversion can safely restore sinus rhythm, while use of anti-arrhythmics often requires ICU monitoring due to risk of QT prolongation. Catheter ablation is the mainstay of therapy for symptomatic patients. Our rare report highlights the direct impact of propafenone on prolonging the refractoriness of the accessory pathway, effectively and safely, and reappraises propafenone’s worthiness as a protective measure following pre-excited atrial fibrillation episode until ablation.


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