Catheter-induced mechanical traum to accessory pathways during radiofrequency ablation: incidence, predictors and clinical implications

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the incidence, predictors and clinical implications of nonintentionally catheter-induced mechanical traum to accessory pathways during radiofrequency ablation procedures. BACKGROUND Dat on the incidence and significance of catheter-induced traum to accessory pathways are scarce. METHODS Consecutive patients (n = 381) undergoing radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathways at two different institutions were closely monitored for appearance of mechanical block of accessory pathways during catheter manipulation. RESULTS Mechanical traum to accessory pathways was observed in 37 (9.7%) patients. According to multivariate analysis, the only independent variable associated with this phenomenon was the anatomical pathway location (p = 0.0001). The incidence of traum of either right anteroseptal (38.5%) or right atriofascicular pathways (33.3%) was significantly greater than that of pathways (≤10%) at all remaining locations (p < 0.0001). The duration of conduction block observed ranged from ≤1 min to >30 min in 19% and 35% of patients, respectively. “Immediate” application of radiofrequency pulses at sites of mechanical block (<1 min after occurrence) was associated with 78% long-term success rate at follow-up. This contrasted with 25% long-term success rate in patients in whom pulses were delivered 30 min after occurrence of block (“delayed pulses”). Finally, in 24% of patients persistent trauma-induced conduction block led to discontinuation of the ablation procedure. CONCLUSIONS Traum to accessory pathways is more common than previously recognized and frequently results in prolongation or discontinuation of the ablation procedure and in lower success rates. The only independent predictor of catheter-traum to accessory pathways is the pathway location.