Chronic incomplete atrioventricular block induced by radiofrequency catheter ablation

Journal Article · Sun Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Circulation; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.80.4.951· OSTI ID:5181628

Huang, S K; Bharati, S; Graham, A R; Gorman, G; Lev, M ^[1]

---

1. Tucson Veterans Administration Medical Center, AZ (USA)

To determine if catheter ablation of the atrioventricular (AV) junction with radiofrequency energy can induce chronic incomplete (first- and second-degree) AV block to avoid the need for a permanent pacemaker, 20 closed-chest dogs were studied. Group 1 (10 dogs) received radiofrequency energy (750 kHz) with a fixed power setting (5 or 10 W) while increasing the pulse duration from 10 to 50 seconds for each application. Group 2 (10 dogs) received energy with a fixed pulse duration (20 or 30 seconds) while increasing the power setting from 5 to 10 W or from 10 to 20 W during each energy delivery. Radiofrequency energy was delivered between a chest-patch electrode and the distal electrode of a regular 7F tripolar His bundle catheter. For each application, the energy delivery was interrupted when (1) the PR interval prolonged (greater than 50%) or (2) second-degree or complete AV block occurred and persisted up to 5 seconds. The ablation procedure ended when there was (1) persistent PR prolongation (greater than 50%) or persistent second-degree AV block (lasting greater than 30 minutes) after ablation, (2) occurrence of two consecutive transient (less than 1 minute) complete AV blocks after each energy delivery, or (3) complete AV block (lasting greater than 2 minutes) after ablation. Of seven dogs in group 1 and five dogs in group 2 in which incomplete AV block was achieved 1 hour after the procedure, six in group 1 and five in group 2 remained in incomplete AV block 2-3 months after ablation. One dog in group 1 progressed into complete AV block. Of the remaining three dogs in group 1 and five dogs in group 2 in which complete AV block was initially achieved 1 hour after ablation, two in group 1 and four in group 2 continued to have complete AV block, whereas one in each group had AV conduction returned to incomplete at 1-2 months of follow-up.

• OSTI ID: 5181628
• Journal Information: Circulation; (USA), Vol. 80:4; ISSN 0009-7322
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
HEART
SENSITIVITY
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
DOGS
ELECTROCARDIOGRAMS
ANIMALS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DIAGRAMS
DISEASES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MAMMALS
ORGANS
RADIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects