Objective-To assess the changes in quality of life, arrhythmia symptoms, an
d hospital resource utilisation following catheter ablation of typical atri
al flutter.
Design-Patient questionnaire to compare the time interval following ablatio
n with a similar time interval before ablation.
Setting-Tertiary referral centre.
Patients-63 consecutive patients were studied. Four patients subsequently u
nderwent an ablate and pace procedure, two died of co-morbid illnesses, and
two were lost to follow up. The remaining 55 patients form the basis of th
e report.
Results-Patients were followed for a mean (SD) of 12 (9.5) months. Atrial f
lutter ablation resulted in an improvement in quality of life (3.8 v 2.5, p
< 0.001) and reductions in symptom frequency score (2.0 v 3.5, p < 0.001)
and symptom severity score (2.0 v 3.8, p < 0.001) compared with preablation
values. There was a reduction in the number of patients visiting accident
and emergency departments (11% v 53%, p < 0.001), requiring cardioversion (
7% v 51%, p < 0.001), or being admitted to hospital for a rhythm problem (1
1% v 56%, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis confirmed that patients with atrial
flutter and concomitant atrial fibrillation before ablation and those with
atrial flutter alone both derived significant benefit from atrial flutter
ablation. Patients with concomitant atrial fibrillation had an improvement
in quality of life (3.5 v 2.5, p < 0.001) and reductions in symptom frequen
cy score (2.3 v 3.5, p < 0.001) and symptom severity score (2.2 v 3.7, p <
0.001) compared with preablation values.
Conclusions-Ablation of atrial flutter is recommended both in patients with
atrial flutter alone and in those with concomitant atrial fibrillation.