Radiofrequency catheter ablation of patients with permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia and long-term follow-up results.

BACKGROUND

Permanent junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT) is an infrequent form of atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia. We report the clinical and electrophysiological properties of PJRT and outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) in a large group of patients.

METHODS

We included 62 patients with the diagnosis of PJRT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in all.

RESULTS

Location of accessory pathway was right posteroseptal in 37 (59,7%) cases, right midseptal in 3 (4,8%), left posterior in 7 (11,3%), left lateral in 5 (8,1%), left posterolateral in 3 (4,8%), left anterolateral in 2 (3,2%), left posteroseptal in 2 (3,2%), middle cardiac vein in 2 (3,2%), and left coronary cusp in 1 (1,6%). Single procedure success rate was 90.3%. None of patients had recurrence during follow-up after repeat ablations. Overall long-term success rate was 98.4%. Left ventricular systolic function recovered in all patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy (TIC).

CONCLUSION

Retrograde decremental accessory pathways are mainly located in posteroseptal region. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a safe and effective approach in patients with PJRT.