Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for Frequent Prema- ture Ventricular Contractions : A Preliminary Report of 15 Cases
ONGKARN RAUNGRATANAAMPORN, M.D.*, RUNGROJ KRITTAYAPHONG,M.D.*, CHARUW AN KANGKAGATE, M.S., (Biostat)*, KIERTUAI BHURIPANYO, M.D.*, KANCHANA WANSANIT, B.Sc.*, SUPHACHAI CHAITHIRAPHAN, M.D, F.A.C.P., F.R.A.C., F.A.C.C.*
Affiliation : * Her Majesty's Cardiac Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.
Abstract
Between February 1995 and March 1997, 15 patients, 13 women and 2 men, underwent
radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for symptomatic frequent premature ventricular con-
tractions (PVC's). The mean age was 43.3 ± 11.9 years. Thirteen patients (86.7%) had right PVC's
and the remainder had both right and left PVC's. RFCA were done under local anesthesia,
using both earliest endocardial activation time and pace mapping in complement. The immediate
success rate was 14/15 (93%) with only minor complications in 2 patients (13.3%). The fluoro-
scopic and procedure times were 40.6 ± 24.0 and 170.7 ± 81.2 minutes, respectively. From the
Holter monitoring, total PVC count, per cent of PVC per total heart beat in 24 hours and couplets
count were significantly reduced, (more than 90%, p < 0.05), by RFCA. Triplets and repetitive
ventricular tachycardia were totally abolished.
During the follow-up period of 10.1 ± 7.5 months, 2 patients (14.3%) had recurrences
of right PVC's within 2 weeks after ablation. Reablation was successfully done in both patients
without recurrence, giving the final success rate of 93 per cent.
In conclusion, RFCA could be safely performed with a high success rate in patients
with symptomatic frequent PVC's. It can be considered an alternative treament in patients
resistant to medical therapy.
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