MIDTERM OUTCOME OF THE ESCAPE RHYTHM DEVE LOPED AFTER RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF THE ATRIOVENTRICULAR JUNCTION

Mid-term outcome of the underlying escape rhythm developed after radio frequency ablation of the atrio-ventricular junction was studied in 50 consecutive patients (28 women and 22 men with a mean age of 66.2 +/- 9.6 years). The escape rhythm was assessed immediately after ablation and after 13.7 +/- 8 months. At the end of ablation : an escape rhyth m was present in 38 patients (76%), with a mean rate of 40.7 +/- 9.7 b eats/min and a QRS morphology identical to the preablation QRS morphol ogy in 22 patients (58%). At follow-up : an escape rhythm was present in 37 patients (74%), with a slower mean rate of 36.4 +/- 6.8 beats/mi n (p < 0.05) and an unchanged QRS morphology in 87.5% of the patients. Patients presenting with an escape rhythm at follow-up were more freq uently found to have a postablation escape rhythm (p < 0.01). Escape r hythm presence at follow-up was not influenced by age, presence of a c ardiac disease, continuation of an antiarrhythmic treatment after abla tion, use of a bilateral approach for ablation or number of radiofrequ ency applications. Conclusion : after abrupt inhibition of the stimula tion, an escape rhythm was present only in 74% of the patients 13.7 +/ - 8 months after atrio-ventricular-junction radiofrequency ablation. Q RS morphology was identical to the preablation morphology in 57% of th e patients.