Via practica 6/2008

INVASIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENT OF SUPRAVENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Supraventricular arrytmias represent a heterogenic group of cardiac rhythm disorders. Quite often, only an electrophysiological study is able to define specific disorder in rhythm conduction or formation. Invasive diagnostic and treatment is clearly preferred in most frequent supraventricular arrhytmias: typical atrial flutter, atrio-ventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrio-ventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). Recently, catheter ablation has become an important part of treatment in selected patients with atrial fibrillation. The most frequently used modality of catheter ablation is radiofrequency ablation with high success rate and safety. Once an arrhytmogenic substrate is defined by the elecrophysiological study, there is a possibility of currative treatment with catheter ablation.

Keywords: supraventricular arrhytmias, typical atrial flutter, electrophysiological study, catheter ablation, radiofrequency ablation.