GOLDART--Gold Alloy Versus Platinum-Iridium Electrode for Ablation of AVNRT.

Introduction: Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation targeting the slow pathway is currently the most effective treatment for patients with atrioventricular nodal reciprocating tachycardia (AVNRT). Gold exhibits a more than four times greater thermal conductivity than platinum, and the creation of deeper lesions was demonstrated in ex vivo animal experiments. The current clinical trial was initiated to compare gold catheters with standard platinum-iridium (Pt-Ir) material and to analyze differences in the increase of power or temperature as a function of time during RF ablation.

Efficacy and safety of ibutilide for the conversion of monomorphic atrial tachycardia.

Background: Ibutilide is a class III antiarrhythmic drug, frequently used for conversion of atrial fibrillation and flutter. We studied the efficacy of ibutilide for acute conversion of monomorphic atrial tachycardia (monoAT) in a prospective, open label study in the intensive care unit of a cardiological clinic.

Methods: We examined 49 episodes of monoAT in 38 patients (19 men/19 women).

[Catheter ablation of accessory atrioventricular conduction pathways in all locations--consecutive results of a new curative therapy of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia].

Accessory atrioventricular pathways are a frequent cause of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias. This study analyses our results with a recently developed therapeutic approach-radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation. This was applied in 150 consecutive patients (97 men, 53 women, mean age 42 +/- 15 years) with a total of 159 accessory pathways in all locations.