Assessment of the influence of radiofrequency catheter ablation of the slow pathway of the atrioventricular node on cardiac function in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: a speckle tracking echocardiography study

OBJECTIVES
Typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) can be cured with slow pathway ablation. This study was designed to assess the alterations in atrial and ventricular functioning using speckle tracking echocardiography in consecutive patients with typical AVNRT who underwent slow pathway radiofrequency (RF) ablation.

STUDY DESIGN
Included in this study were 23 consecutive patients with symptomatic drug-resistant typical (slow-fast) AVNRT, all of whom underwent an invasive electrophysiology study and RF ablation. Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiographic evaluation 24 hours before and 24 hours after the ablation procedure.

RESULTS
AVNRT was induced during the electrophysiological study, and RF ablation successfully eliminated tachyarrhythmia in 23 (100%) patients. The atrial-His (A-H) interval was decreased in the post-ablation period compared to the pre-ablation period without the occurrence of immediate conduction disturbances. Peak left atrial longitudinal strain during the reservoir phase was increased in the post-ablation period compared to the pre-ablation period (48.24±16.45 vs. 38.07±15.72, p<0.001). The left atrial septal electromechanical coupling time was significantly decreased after the procedure (48.90±12.26 vs. 38.92±7.14 ms, p=0.036).

CONCLUSION
In addition to treatment of arrhythmia, RF catheter ablation of AVNRT may also restore left atrial function as early as 24 hours after the procedure