Incidence, significance, and pharmacological responses of catheter-induced mechanical trauma in patients receiving radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia.

Abstract

Catheter-induced mechanical trauma was not common in patients receiving radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachycardia. Their clinical courses were variable, and pharmacological manipulation offered little assistance. More than half of the patients had long-term cures. However, the recurrence rate was, on the whole, significantly high despite rescue radiofrequency ablation. There is a need for great caution in the placement of electrode catheters in every patient during electrophysiological study and radiofrequency ablation.