Principles and approaches of atrial flutter ablation

Atrial flutter can be understood as atrial tachycardia due to a single intr aatrial macroreentrant circuit that is determined by fixed or functional bo underies. In various types of atrial flutter, radiofrequency ablation becam e an established curative therapy. During the course of an ablation procedu re, initially, the reentrant circuit has to be determined, e.g. by activati on and entrainment mapping. Subsequently, the bounderies have to be identif ied. By connecting two appropriate boundaries with a Linear lesion, the int raatrial reentrant circuit can be inhibited. Finally, it should be proven t hat the linear lesion results in a complete line of conduction block. Doing so, the acute and long-term results of atrial flutter ablation are compara ble to those of other supraventricular tachycardias.