14th International Congress
THE "NEW FRONTIERS"
OF ARRHYTHMIAS 2000

Jan. 29 - Feb. 5, 2000
Marilleva, Trento, Italy

RT-19

Long-term follow-up after atrioventricular node ablation and pacing in drug resistant atrial fibrillation: low incidence of sudden cardiac death

M. Gasparini, M. Mantica, P.Galimberti, M. Brignole, C.Menozzi, G.Magenta, P. Delise, A.Proclemer, S. Tognarin, R.Ometto.
Unita Operativa di Elettrofisiologia, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano Milan, Italy

Methods

The study population consisted of 585 patients (mean age 66±11 years) with severely symptomatic, paroxysmal (n=308) or chronic (n =277), high-rate, drug-resistant AF. This population presented a relevant incidence of heart disease (452/585 patients, 71%), and specifically 42% of patients suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease or prosthetic valve. All patients underwent AV node ablation only when every pharmacological approach had failed to control severe symptoms or signs due to AF (mean 3.5 ineffective antiarrhythmic drugs). Patients underwent single chamber ventricular PM (454 patients) or dual chamber atrioventricular PM (131 patients) implantation, after AV node ablation.

Follow-up data regarding deaths and SCD were obtained by retrieving patients’ files and data from death certificates, autopsy protocol when available and medical records.