Effect of residual slow pathway function on the time course of recurrences of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia after radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway

Some centers have suggested complete elimination of slow pathway function to ensure a successful long-term outcome after slow pathway ablation to eliminate AVNRT.1 The results of the present study demonstrate that this may not be necessary. As long as an isoproterenol infusion is administered and AVNRT is no longer inducible, residual slow pathway function with or without a single AV nodal echo beat is an adequate end point for the ablation procedure. Once the inducibility of AVNRT has been eliminated, attempts to completely ablate the slow pathway may serve only to prolong the procedure and to expose the patient and the operators to unnecessary radiation exposure.