RADIOFREQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION OF ECTOPIC ATRIAL TACHYCARDIA

Ectopic atrial tachycardia (EAT) is an uncommon type of supraventricul ar tachycardia. it is usually chronic, incessant and resistant to phar macologic therapy. Radiofrequency catheter ablation, which has become one of the treatments of choice for the more common types of supravent ricular tachycardia, has recently also been shown to be effective in E AT. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was attempted in three patients w ith incessant EAT, Two of the patients, aged 7 and 13 years, had signs of left ventricular dysfunction, acid the EAT originated in the left atrium. The remaining patient, aged 72 years, had a right EAT with nor mal left ventricular function. Radiofrequency ablation was guided by e ndocardial atrial mapping to locate the site of earliest atrial activa tion. Ablation was successful in all three patients, with complete cur e of the tachycardia for a follow-up period of 12 to 19 months. Radiof requency catheter ablation of EAT is highly successful and should be c onsidered as one of the treatments of choice for this arrhythmia.