Key result
Slow pathway ablation for AVNRT can rarely result in intermittent, functional second-degree heart block during circumstances of extreme autonomic imbalance.
Why the study?
Does slow pathway ablation for AVNRT cause functional heart block?
Case Report (n=1)
No
Does slow pathway ablation for AVNRT cause functional heart block?
Slow pathway ablation for AVNRT may rarely result in brief functional heart block, highlighting the role of the slow pathway in maintaining AV conduction during extreme autonomic imbalance.
Rare functional block may occur post-AVNRT ablation under autonomic stress; hypothesis-generating for slow pathway role in AV nodal reserve.
Slow pathway (SP) ablation is an acceptable, standard method for atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) ablation. The exact role of SP in the human heart and the possible negative implications of SP ablation are unknown. The current case report describes an unusual, brief, functional heart block, following radiofrequency ablation of the SP. Our findings highlight the peculiar property of the SP in maintaining conduction over an atrioventricular (AV) node, in circumstances of extreme autonomic imbalance. SP can be ablated without major conduction problems for AVNRT. Careful pre-ablation evaluation of the AV conduction pattern may assist in predicting occurrences of this type of heart block.
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Al-Sayegh et al. (2011) conducted a case report in Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) (n=1). Slow pathway radiofrequency ablation was evaluated on Development of heart block. Slow pathway ablation for AVNRT can rarely result in intermittent, functional second-degree heart block during circumstances of extreme autonomic imbalance.
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