Accessory pathway and atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia in elderly patients: clinical features, electrophysiologic characteristics and results of radiofrequency ablation

Department of Medicine, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.

OBJECTIVES. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical features, electrophysiologic characteristics and results of radiofrequency ablation in elderly patients with accessory atrioventricular (AV) pathways or AV node reentrant tachycardia. BACKGROUND. Radiofrequency ablation in elderly patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia has not been well described, and comparative study between elderly and younger patients is limited. METHODS. Electrophysiologic studies and radiofrequency ablation were performed in 92 elderly patients (45 with an accessory pathway, 47 with AV node reentrant tachycardia). RESULTS. The elderly patients had poorer electrophysiologic properties in accessory pathways and dual AV node pathways than those of younger patients. The success rate of radiofrequency ablation was similar in elderly and younger patients. However, elderly patients had more complications (14%) in left-sided accessory pathways. CONCLUSIONS. Radiofrequency ablation in elderly patients with supraventricular tachycardia was effective. However, it must be performed cautiously in those patients with left-sided accessory pathways.

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