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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1986; 34(6): 398-402
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1022183
Case Report

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Successful Surgical Treatment of Focal Atrial Tachycardia - A Case Report and Review of the Literature

G. Frank1 , D. Baumgart1 , H. Klein2 , I. Luhmer3 , H. C. Kallfelz3 , H. G. Borst1
  • 1Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
  • 2Division of Cardiology
  • 3Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, FRG
Further Information

Publication History

1986

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Focal atrial tachycardia with frequencies up to 200/min in an 11-year-old girl had been resistant to drugs over a period of 5 years. An electrophysiological study demonstrated a left atrial ectopic tachycardia. Intraoperative epicardial mapping localized the automatic focus at the base of the left atrial appendage. Excision of the appendage and cryoablation of the adjacent area were performed using cardiopulmonary bypass. Histologic examination of the excised tissue showed no specific alterations aside from islets of fatty tissue. The girl has been in sinus rhythm and has shown no tachycardias during the 6 months following the operation. A review of the literature, covering 17 cases of right and 12 cases of left atrial foca! tachycardia, indicates excision of the atrial tissue in combination with cryoablation to be the treatment of choice to ensure success.

Key words

Ectopic atrial tachycardia - Electrophysiologic study - Antiarrhythmic surgery