Modification of atrioventricular node in a special condition treating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

Modification of atrioventricular node is a usual and necessary operation to cure atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). In this operation, atrioventricular block is the most severe complication and its prevention is of our great concern. This complication always occurs under some special circumstances with potential risk. So, it is very important to realize such conditions, as in this paper. A patient with paroxysmal palpitation for 10 years, aggravating to shortness of breath with chest distress for 1 year; cardiac electrophysiological examination found slow conduction in both antegrade and retrograde paths of reentrant loop, and typical AVNRT could be induced. During effective ablation there was no junctional rhythm. In some special cases, modification of atrioventricular node should not only rely on the junctional rhythm to determine the ablation effect, but also on the time of cardiac electrophysiological examination, as such to avoid the severe complication of atrioventricular block caused by excessive ablation.