Radiofrequency ablation versus cryoablation in the treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia

Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is an abnormal heart rhythm caused by aberrant electrical conduction within the AV node. AVNRT is the most common type of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), with approximately 50,000 new cases per year in the United States. Catheter ablation of AV node tissue has become the first-line definitive treatment for AVNRT, owing to its high efficacy, tolerability, and safety. Two modalities of ablation, radiofrequency (RF) and cryoablation are commonly utilized in clinical practice with high levels of success in treating AVNRT. To date, studies on the two modalities have compared metrics such as acute success rate, procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and recurrence of AVNRT. Recurrence of AVNRT has been observed as far as 10 years after RF ablation. In patients with a history of RF ablation for AVNRT, rates of atrial fibrillation are higher than that of the general population. However, long-term studies directly comparing RF and cryoablation outcomes do not exist. This retrospective cohort study is designed to examine the rates of AVNRT recurrence and new arrythmias in patients 10 to 15 years after receiving either RF or cryoablation. To accomplish this, eligible participants will have their medical records reviewed for documentation of AVNRT recurrence, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and complete AV block requiring pacemaker implantation. In doing so, we hope to give providers more insight into the risk profiles for each modality.

Author dc:creator

• McCormick, Michael

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Siddiqi, Omar
• Weinstein, John R.

• Medicine
• Arrhythmia
• AVNRT
• Cardiac ablation
• SVT

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/2144/42169

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.bu.edu:2144/42169