RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF ACCESSORY PATH WAYS OF THE HEART CONDUCTION SYSTEM

Between August 1991 and August 1993, 75 patients (42 male) with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome (43 concealed) were subjected to radiofrequen cy ablation of accessory pathways at our institution. 55 had left, 8 p ostero septal, 2 anteroseptal and 10 right accessory pathways. A retro grade aortic technique with placement of the ablation catheter in clos e proximity to the mitral annulus was used for most of the patients wi th left accessory pathways and for some with posteroseptal pathways. T he right, anteroseptal and some posteroseptal pathways were ablated us ing a right heart approach placing the ablation catheter in the tricus pid annulus. Ablation was successful in 61 patients (81%). One subject developed a fatal cardiac tamponade after a transeptal catheterizatio n and was unrelated to the ablation per se. It is concluded that radio frequency ablation of accessory pathways is a curative procedure for a great majority of patients with Wolf Parkinson White syndrome.