TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY DURING RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF LEFT-SIDED FREE-WALL ATRIOVENTRICULAR ACCESSORY PATHWAYS IN WOLFF-PARKINSON-WHITE SYNDROME

This study reports our initial experience in performing radiofrequency ablations (RFA) of Wolff-Parkinson-White accessory pathways in the la teral wall of the left ventricle with monitoring and guidance provided by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Fifty RFA procedures were performed in 48 patients. TEE was used to detect underlying heart dise ase (in nine patients), monitor coronary sinus catheterization (in 15 patients), guide atrial transseptal catheterization (in 29 procedures) , help position the RFA catheter's tip, and evaluate for possible comp lications in all patients. The study suggests that TEE may help to gui de electrophysiologists during their initial experience with RFA proce dures.