Authors

• Sandro Brusich — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-7394-6698
• Mate Mavrić — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-6362-5911
• Marina Klasan — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-9863-4113
• David Židan — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-8708-6315
• Daniela Malić Zahirović — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-7520-2163
• Koraljka Benko — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-7556-0860
• Ivana Grgić — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-0035-4445
• Zlatko Čubranić — University of Rijeka School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-6989-5100

Keywords

ablation, arrhythmia, electrophysiology

DOI

Full Text

**Background**: In July 2015 the first electrophysiology laboratory in University Hospital Center (UHC) Rijeka became operational. During the 1st year, electrophysiological studies have been performed in 184 patients. In 30 patients electrophysiological studies with ventricular tachycardia provocation have been performed while 154 patients also underwent ablation of the arrhythmia. In 144 patients radiofrequent ablation was used. Since April 2016, cryoablation is being used in patients with atrial fibrillation and by July 2016, 10 patients have been treated with this method. A CARTO system is also being acquired and is expected to become operational in September 2016. The aim of this study is to present the success rate of ablation treatment and the rate of reablation and recurrence of arrhythmias in patients treated with catheter ablation. **Patients and Methods**: 154 patients (92 male and 62 female) who underwent catheter ablation in UHC Rijeka have been included in this study. Indications for ablation included atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia (52 patients – 33.77%), atrial undulation (32 patients – 20.78%), AV reentrant tachycardia (18 patients – 11.69%), atrial tachycardia (1 patient – 0.65%), cryoablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) (10 patients – 6.49%). In 41 patient (26.62%), the indication for catheter ablation was refractory AF with ventricular tachyarrhythmia, and ablation of the AV node has been performed along with implantation of a cardiac pacemaker if it hasn’t been already implanted (22 three chamber pacemaker were used, and 19 dual or single chamber pacemakers). **Results:** The success rate of catheter ablation in the first try was 96.75% (149 patients). The recurrence of arrhythmia was noted in 5 patients (3.36%), and 5 reablations (4 patients with recurrence and 1 patient whom the arrhythmia was not successfully ablated in the first try) have been performed with a reablation success rate of 100%. Complications have occurred in 2 patients (1.30%) and included AV block and femoral artery pseudoaneurysm. **Conclusion**: Catheter ablation of arrhythmias is proven to be a safe and effective method of treatment. The results of ablation during the first year of the electrophysiology laboratory in UHC Rijeka are similar to the results published by other electrophysiology centers and international guidelines. (1, 2)

Literature

1. Blomström-Lundqvist C, Scheinman MM, Aliot EM, Alpert JS, Calkins H, Camm AJ, et al. NASPE-Heart Rhythm Society. ACC/AHA/ESC guidelines for the management of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias--executive summary. a report of the American college of cardiology/American heart association task force on practice guidelines and the European society of cardiology committee for practice guidelines (writing committee to develop guidelines for the management of patients with supraventricular arrhythmias) developed in collaboration with NASPE-Heart Rhythm Society. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003;42(8):1493–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2003.08.013
2. O’Hara GE, Philippon F, Champagne J, Blier L, Molin F, Côté JM, et al. Catheter ablation for cardiac arrhythmias: a 14-year experience with 5330 consecutive patients at the Quebec Heart Institute, Laval Hospital. Can J Cardiol. 2007 Oct;23 Suppl B:67B–70B. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0828-282X(07)71013-9