Minimal Fluoroscopic Catheter Ablation for Adult Patients with Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia without the Assistance of Intracardiac Echocardiography

Background

Radiation exposure during fluoroscopic procedures increases the risk of cancer for both patients and operators.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of adopting a three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping (3D EAM) system during ablation for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), without the assistance of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), for both right- and left-chamber cardiac procedures.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled all patients with PSVT from September 2018 to December 2020. The patients were grouped according to the use of the 3D EAM system (3D-guided group, n = 102 vs. conventional group, n = 226).

Results

The acute success rates were high in both groups (100% vs. 99.1%). The fluoroscopy time was significantly lower in the 3D-guided group than in the conventional group (2.4 ± 4.4 vs. 19.0 ± 10.8 min); the procedure time was significantly increased in the 3D-guided group (104.5 ± 29.9 vs. 94.0 ± 31.9 min), and this was associated with the post-electrophysiology test diagnosis after adjustment for multiple variables [standardized B coefficient (β) 0.188]. There was no learning curve for each electrophysiologist in terms of fluoroscopy and procedure times.

Conclusions

The 3D EAM system, without the assistance of ICE, was safe and effective in guiding PSVT ablation in both left- and right-chamber ablation.

Bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia: review and case presentation

Bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia (BBRVT) is characterized by a unique, fast (200-300 beats/min), monomorphic wide complex tachycardia (WCT) associated with syncope, hemodynamic compromise, and cardiac arrest. It is challenging to diagnose, requiring a His bundle recording and specific pacing maneuvers. The overall incidence has been reported to be up to 20% among patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) undergoing electrophysiologic studies. We report a case of BBRVT in a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) presenting as a WCT with recurrent implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks. We describe all the characteristic features of BBRVT and discuss its differential. We also discuss the role of ablation for this condition.