Surgical treatment of supraventricular tachycardia: experience with 61 patients.

Sixty-one patients underwent operation for supraventricular tachycardia: 52 had tachycardia associated with the atrioventricular accessory pathways; 9 patients had other forms of tachycardia. Accessory pathways were successfully divided in 92.3% of the patients. Classic endocardial approach was used in 30 patients; closed heart ablation of the accessory pathways was performed in 22 patients. There were two reoperations for return of conduction through the accessory pathways. Six patients underwent cryoablation of the His bundle through the right atrial approach. Four patients underwent attempts at curative operations for atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia, atrial flutter, and atrial ectopic tachycardia. Concomitant cardiac surgical procedures were performed in 14 patients. Operative mortality was 1.6%. A satisfactory result, without tachycardia and without medication, was achieved in 93.4% of all patients.