Author/Editor		Rakovec, P; Šinkovec, M
Title		Cooled ablation of atrial flutter
Type		članek
Source		Giornale Italiano di aritmologia e cardiostimolazione
Vol. and No.		Letnik 5, št. Suppl 1
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 271-4
Language		eng
Abstract		We report our initial results of cooled atrial flutter ablation, obtained without any previous experience in conventional cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. Radiofrequency ablation was performed in thirty patients (26/30 with structural heart disease) using catheters with internal saline-irrigated tip. eidirectional isthmus block was successfully created in 28/30 patients. There were 3 subacute flutter recurrences, 2 of them were successfully treated by repeating the ablation. One patient refused to undergo a second ablation session. There were no late recurrences in the remaining patients (in 27 patients the follow-up period >6 months is sufficient for evaluation, in 2 patients the follow-up period is still too short). Stable sinus rhythm was present in 79 of 27 patients with sufficiently long follow-up, 5 patients had chronic atrial fibrillation and 3 patients had atrial fibrillation in its paroxysmal form. All but one patient with atrial fibrillation had had this arrhythmia recorded already before ablation. Cooled ablation yields effective and durable results in cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. The use of this technique as first line therapy shortens the procedure time and Xray exposure without compromising safety.
Descriptors		ATRIAL FLUTTER CATHETER ABLATION TREATMENT OUTCOME