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A new technique is presented in which atrioventricular (A V) nodal conduction properties can be altered in a controlled way through the application of radiofrequency current. In 13 patients with supraventricular arrhythmias (maximal heart rate 215/min) radiofrequency current was delivered to the A V node via a catheter. Nine patients had atrial fibrillation, three had A V nodal reentrant tachycardia, and one patient had accessory pathway mediated A V tachycardia. Radiofrequency current application in these patients increased AV nodal conduction time and antegrade A V nodal effective refractory period significantly. In three patients radiofrequency current had no effect, and the A V node was ablated with direct current shocks. During a mean follow‐up period of 10 ± 3 months, all ten patients in whom radiofrequency current application had been successful were asymptomatic without antiarrhythmic medication. No complications were observed, neither during nor after the procedure.
Kunze et al. (Thu,) studied this question.