Catheter ablations of supraventricular tachycardias.

BACKGROUND: Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) occur at all ages. Their spectrum as well as tolerance change with increasing age.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to assess the course of SVT catheter ablations in elderly patients when compared to younger population.

METHODS: The course of the SVT radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in the group of 288 patients, who underwent catheter ablation at our department during 24 months was retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to age. In the first group 142 patients younger than 65 years were included and 146 patients aged 65 years or more in the second group. In both groups, the occurrence of heart rhythm disorders, fluoroscopy time and the incidence of complications with varying severity were observed.

RESULTS: Life-threatening complications were observed only in three patients from the first group (one pulmonary embolism and two unintended complete atrioventricular blocks). Serious complications included a haemopericardium requiring a pericardial drainage in two cases and an arterial-venous fistula in one patient in the first group, and one retroperitoneal heamatoma in the second group. Minor complications represented by one heamatoma larger than 5x5cm occurred in one patient from each group. The occurrence of complications as well as average fluoroscopy time were not correlated between the groups.

CONCLUSION: Based on our experience, radiofrequency catheter ablation of SVT in elderly patients is a safe procedure when indicated correctly. Taking into account the physical status of patients in this age group it is advisable to simplify and thus shorten the procedure (Tab. 1, Ref. 13). Full Text in PDF www.elis.sk.