Catheter-based treatment of common atrial flutter yesterday and today

Česká verzia

Authors: Z. Stárek; L. Zaoral; M. Eisenberger; P. Leinveber; M. Novák
Authors place of work: I. interní kardioangiologická klinika FN u sv. Anny, Brno
Published in the journal: Kardiol Rev Int Med 2006, 8(Supplementum): 24-27

Summary

Common atrial flutter is a frequent and clinically significant arrhythmia. It is macroreentrant atrial tachycardia circulating around the right atrium along anatomically pathway defined by anatomical barriers and with an area of slow conduction within the cavotricuspid isthmus. There has been an extensive development of non-pharmacological methods due to low efficacy and potencial risks of pharmacotherapy. From open heart surgery and high voltage current catheter ablations we have moved to today´s standard - radiofrequency catheter ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus using linear lesions aiming to achieve bidirectional block. At present, it is fast, efficient and safe procedure in therapy of common atrial flutter. The risk of recurrence after successful ablation is below 5 %. The use of large-tip and irrigated-tip catheters facilitates and fastens the achievement of isthmus block. The complication rate of this method is very low.

Key words:
catheter ablation - common atrial flutter - radiofrequency current

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