Primary Experience Of Intracardiac Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Guided By Transthoracic Echocardiography

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of positioning electrode catheter and localizing target guided by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) during intracardiac radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: In 41 patients needed pacemaker-implantation or RFC A, the high right atrial electrode catheter ,the right ventricular electrode catheter, the HIS bundle electrode catheter and the coronary sinus electrode catheter were positioned guided by TTE in 41 patients and by X-ray fluoroscopy in 50 patients respectively. Ablation electrode catheters localizing and target mapping were guided by TTE in 11 patients and by X-ray in 20 patients.Results: The success rate of electrode catheter positioning was 99. 29% in group TTE and 98.92% in group X-ray. The average operating time of every catheter was 2.15?.70 minute and 2.08?.93 minute respectively. The average exposure time of X-ray was 1.60 + 0.73 minute in X-ray group. The success rate of atriventricular node ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation was 11/11 in TTE group and 20/20 in X-ray group. The average operation time was 108.5 + 37.6 min and 95.8+28.5min respectively. The average exposure time of X-ray was10.2+ 5.4 min in X-ray group. Conclusions: TTE could be successfully used as image guiding during RFCA to take the place of X-ray fluoroscopy partially or completely.