Catheter ablation in the year 2000

After its introduction in 1987, radiofrequency catheter ablation became est ablished as a safe and effective therapy for the cure of many cardiac arrhy thmias in people. The possibility of assessing the relationship between the anatomical target and the electrophysiologic changes produced by radiofreq uency pulse delivery has also provided significant improvement in the physi cian's knowledge of the pathophysiology of the underlying rhythm disturbanc e. Nowadays, using this therapy, success rates well above 90% with recurren ce rates lower than 5% are expected after treatment of most regular suprave ntricular arrhythmias. As catheter ablation techniques develop, success rat es in the range of those obtained for regular supraventricular arrhythmias are expected in the future in the treatment of regular Ventricular and irre gular supraventricular arrhythmias. Curr Opin Cardial 2000, 15:29-40 (C) 20 00 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.