ANXIETY LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH PAROXY-SMAL SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA IN RELATION WITH THE PATIENT DEMOGRAPHICS, TYPE OF SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA AND THEIR PERSONALITY TYPE.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of different personality types and state and trait anxiety levels in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and their association with patients age, gender and the mechanism of the paroxysmal SVT. 62 patients with documented paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia who underwent endocardial eletrophysiological study and catheter ablation of the paroxysmal SVT were included in the study. The patients were asked to fill out the Myers-Brigss Type Indicator and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaires and the results were analyzed and correlated with the arrhythmia mechanism determined during electrophysiological study and catheter ablation procedure, and the patients' demographics (age and gender). There was no significant difference in State (mean 41.53±13.51, p=0.893) or Trait (mean 44.70±12.62, p=0.315) anxiety scores according to gender although higher scores were found in females. Older patients (≥50 years old compared to <50 years old) had higher anxiety scores but with no statistical significance (p=0.344 for state anxiety and p=0.100 for trait anxiety). The patients with AVNRT had significantly higher Trait anxiety scores (mean 46.82±10.52) than the patients with AVRT or AT (mean 40.59±10.91) (p=0.032). State anxiety score was not significantly different between patients with different SVT types (p=0.706). Anxiety is an important factor to be considered in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. It doesn't seem to be associated with different personality types. Female and older patients tend to show higher anxiety levels. The atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT) is associated with significantly higher trait anxiety levels compared to other types of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

Long-term symptom improvement and patient satisfaction following catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia: insights from the German ablation registry.

AIMS: To analyse outcomes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) ablations performed within a prospective German Ablation Quality Registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from 12 566 patients who underwent catheter ablation of SVT between January 2007 and January 2010 to treat atrial fibrillation (AFIB, 37.2% of procedures), atrial flutter (AFL, 29.9%), atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT, 23.2%), atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (6.3%), and focal atrial tachycardia (AT, 3.4%) were prospectively collected. Patients were followed for at least 1 year. The periprocedural success rate was 96.3%, ranging from 84.3% (focal AT) to 98.9% (AVNRT). Kaplan-Meier mortality estimate at 1 year was 1.4% overall, and as high as 2.6% in the AFL group and 2.8% in the focal AT group. Recurrence of ablated or another symptomatic SVT was observed in 3783 (32.6%) of patients, ranging from 17.2% (AVNRT) to 45.6% (AFIB). Repeat ablation was performed in 12.0% of patients. After 1 year, 74.1% of survivors perceived ablation therapy as successful, 15.7% as partly successful, and 9.6% as unsuccessful. Even in those patients with arrhythmia recurrence, 76.0% perceived ablation as successful or partly successful and 89.6% would still undergo repeat ablation in the same institution. CONCLUSION: Ablation therapy for SVT is a safe procedure bringing symptomatic improvement and satisfaction to three quarters of patients after 1 year. Even in patients with arrhythmia recurrence, a high satisfaction level and adherence to the ablating institution could be documented. Strikingly high mortality and stroke rates in follow-up were observed in AFL patients, who apparently need consistent long-term anticoagulation and more medical attention.

[Evaluation of quality of life using the Umea 22 questionnaire among patients with atrioventricular nodal tachycardia undergoing successful radiofrequency ablation treatment]. / Basarili radyofrekans ablasyon islemi uygulanan atriyoventriküler nodal reentran tasikardili hastalarda yasam kalitesinin Umea 22 anketi ile degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) attacks is one of the common arrhythmias adversely affecting quality of life. The Umea 22 (U22) is a questionnaire developed for the assessment of symptoms associated with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and it is found to be effective in evaluation of quality of life after radiofrequency ablation. Using this questionnaire, the study aimed to assess quality of life among Turkish patients with ANRT before and after the successful RFA. METHODS: The study was conducted between January 2011 and September 2013, and included 57 patients who had undergone RFA due to AVNRT. The U22 questionnaire was administered pre-procedure and at 6 months post-procedure. The participants were asked to report on their general well-being, arrhythmia effects on their wellbeing, and intensity of discomfort associated with episodes. They were asked to provide a score from 1 to 10 in order to determine to severity of discomfort, and the quantity of symptoms was then assessed according to the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Patients' general wellbeing (7.5±2.3 vs. 8.7±1.8, p<0.001), the effects of arrhythmia episodes on general well-being (8.1±1.7 vs. 1.0±2.1, p<0.001), frequency of symptoms (2.8±0.8 vs. 0.4±0.9, p<0.001) and duration of symptoms were reduced significantly after RFA. The rate of drug use among patients also decreased after RFA (70% vs. 23%, p=0.017). CONCLUSION: Treatment success was high in patients undergoing RFA due to AVNRT according to the U22 quality of life questionnaire. General and arrhythmia-associated quality of life had improved significantly by the 6th month post-procedure.

[Analysis of RF ablation treatment on quality of life in patients with cardiac arrhythmias]. / Analiza wplywu leczenia metoda ablacji RF na poziom jakosci zycia u pacjentów z zaburzeniami rytmu serca.

BACKGROUND: RF ablation is an acknowledged method of treatment for many arrhythmias. During the ablation procedure the cause of the arrhythmia is eliminated, which results in resolution of cardiac arrhythmia and related clinical manifestations and therefore removes restrictions in the functioning of the patient, which were associated with the presence of arrhythmias. AIM OF THE STUDY: Was to assess quality of life in patients undergoing RF ablation due to atrioventricular nodal reciprocating tachycardia--VNRT, atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia -AVRT and ventricular ectopic beats --EB's using the SF-36 questionnaire, DASI and Manolis. MMATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 81 patients (56 women and 25 men), who had undergone the RF abla-ion due to AVRT (24 patients), AVNRT (30 patients) or VEB (27 patients). Qual-ty of life was assessed using three questionnaires: the SF-36, DASI and Manolis that patient completed twice: on admission to hospital and after 6 months after ablation. RRESULTS The study showed im-rovement in all scales in the total study population. Subgroup analysis revealed that for each of the group score increased after ablation. The greatest improvement in scores (the biggest difference after-before) in the SF-36 was observed in patients with VEB. Our study found that the greatest improvement in quality of life after ab-ation in patients with a baseline larg-st number of additional ventricular beats (high negative correlation coef-icient -0.77; p <0 .0001 between point difference (after-before ablation) in the SF-36 questionnaire and the reduction of the amount of VEB's). There was no differences observed in improve-ent between patients with AVRT and AVNRT for the SF-36. CoONCLUSIONS Treatment of arrhyth-ias using RF ablation significantly improves the quality of life in patients with cardiac arrhythmias: AVNRT, AVRT, VEB. The largest improvement in quality of life refers to patients with VEBs. Among patients with VEB the greatest benefit had patients with baseline highest amount of ventricle extrasystoles.

Does atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT) or atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) in children affect their cognitive and emotional development?

The current study sought to assess cognitive and emotional functions among children and adolescents with atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT) and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). 113 patients (62 girls and 51 boys ages, 9-18 years) scheduled for radiofrequency ablation due to AVRT or AVNRT underwent neuropsychologic examination. The study excluded patients who had experienced cardiac arrest, congenital heart defects, neurologic disorders, or other diseases affecting cognitive or emotional development. Standardized tests for examining verbal and visual memory as well as visual-spatial functioning were performed. For patients exhibiting deficits in two or more tests, a diagnosis of "cognitive deficits" was determined. Levels of anxiety were tested using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Cognitive deficits were found in 47.8 % of the patients. The age at first arrhythmia attack was related to memory dysfunction. The mean age at which the first symptoms occurred was significantly lower for patients with deficits (8.3 years) than for patients who had no deficit (10.2 years) (t = 2.15; p = 0.03). Boys exhibited a significantly higher level of trait anxiety than girls (t = 3.42; p = 0.0009). A significant negative correlation was found between anxiety and the age at appearance of the first symptoms (r = -0.26; p = 0.005). These findings led us to conclude that cognitive and emotional developments can be negatively affected by AVNRT and AVRT, particularly if tachycardia appears early in life.

[Radiofrequency ablation of supraventricular re-entry tachycardia: a "new life" with a successful and complications-free method]. / Radiofrequenzablation von supraventrikulären Reentry-Tachykardien: Ein "neues Leben" mit einer erfolgreichen und komplikationsarmen Methode.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the success rate and the satisfaction of patients after radiofrequency ablation of supraventricular tachycardias. 94 consecutive patients, 62 with AV-node-reentry-tachycardia (AVNRT) and 32 with AV-reentry-tachycardia (AVRT) were included. Success rate of ablation was 98% for AVNRT and 94% for AVRT. Recurrence rates were 11% and 9% respectively. The interval between the first tachycardia and ablation was very long (mean 17 +/- 14 years) and prior drug therapy was successful in only 13% of patients. Minor complications were observed in 12% and only one major complication (AV-fistula) was treated surgically. No pacemaker had to be implanted due to a complete AV-block. After ablation 96% of patients were "strongly satisfied" or "satisfied" with the procedure and their relief of symptoms. In addition limitations in all investigated activities (everyday-life, work, sport, hiking, travelling, sexual activity) were significantly reduced (all p < 0.005).

Quality of life before and after radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with drug refractory atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

In a retrospective survey of 161 highly symptomatic patients, we found significant improvements in symptoms, patient utility, and use of medical care services after radiofrequency ablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.