Influence of isoproterenol on the accelerated junctional rhythm observed during radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal slow pathway conduction
T. Matsushita et al., Influence of isoproterenol on the accelerated junctional rhythm observed during radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal slow pathway conduction, AM HEART J, 142(4), 2001, pp. 664-668
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Background Accelerated junctional rhythm (AJR) has been considered as a sen
sitive but rather nonspecific marker of successful radiofrequency (RF) abla
tion of slow pathway in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tach
ycardia (AVNRT). However, AJR also occurs commonly during isoproterenol inf
usion. We therefore investigated the effect of isoproterenol on the signifi
cance of AJR while attempting slow pathway ablation.
Methods Forty patients with AVNRT underwent slow pathway ablation. Sixty-ni
ne RF applications accompanied by AJR were observed and were separated into
2 groups: applications performed without (group I, n = 26) and with (group
II, n = 43) isoproterenol infusion. The specificity of AJR for successful
ablation for each group was calculated.
Results The specificity of AJR in groups I and II was 73% (19/26) and 49% (
21/43), respectively (P < .05). There was no significant difference between
the groups in the atrial electrogram width, atrial/ventricular electrogram
amplitude ratio, the time from application onset to AJR emergence, or AJR
cycle length. The catheter-tip temperature of AJR emergence was significant
ly lower (47 degreesC +/- 3 degreesC vs 520 degreesC +/- 30 degreesC, P < .
001) and the ratio of junctional beats to total heart beats during RF appli
cation was significantly greater (46% +/- 24% vs 33% +/- 18%, P < .05) in g
roup II compared with group I.
Conclusions Isoproterenol lowers the threshold of AJR emergence during RF a
pplication and thereby lowers the specificity of AJR for successful ablatio
n. Complete washout of isoproterenol may therefore improve the specificity
of AJR during RF ablation in patients with AVNRT.