ABLATION OF SLOW PATHWAY CONDUCTION IN TH E TREATMENT OF ATRIOVENTRICULAR NODAL REENTRY TACHYCARDIA - REPORT OF 2 CASES

The aim of this work is to summarize the first experience in Chile mod ifying the slow pathway in patients with tachycardias due to atrio-ven tricular node reentry. Until now, the only available treatment was the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. The radiofrequency fulguration or cauter ization of part of the atrioventricular node has been reported as a tr eatment for these arrhythmias. The initial technique fulgurated the ra pid pathway with a significant risk of atrioventricular block. The mod ification of the slow pathway has been recently described. We report t wo patients, 9 and 45 years old, with a history of recurrent tachycard ias, refractory to pharmacological treatment. An electrophysiological study demonstrated that the mechanism of their arrhytmias was a nodal reentry. In the same session one of the mapping catheters was changed by a fulguration one and radiofrequency was applied, using a variation of the technique described by Jackman. In both, the slow plathway was modified or blocked with definitive interruption of the nodal reentry circuit and preservation of atrioventricular conduction.