Benefits from catheter ablation in patients with pulmonary hypertension: Recent advances

Abstract

Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is a frequent complication of pulmonary hypertension (PH). The most prevalent SVTs are atrial fibrillation (AF) and typical atrial flutter (AFL), followed by focal and macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (AT) and nodal arrhythmia (AV nodal reentry tachycardia or AV reentry tachycardia). SVT is frequently associated with functional deterioration and right ventricular failure in PH patients. According to some data, reestablishing sinus rhythm is associated with clinical improvement. Catheter ablation of typical AFL, nodal tachyarrhythmias, or other less complex focal ATs have been shown to be feasible, acutely effective, and safe in patients with PH. However, the long-term clinical outcome is modified by the recurrence of index arrhythmia and the onset of a new SVT. Due to right atrial dilatation, technical issues can arise when ablation is carried out. The role of catheter ablation in patients with AF or more complex AT is even less effective. The results mirror the success rate in the general AF population with non-paroxysmal AF. However, the data is limited, and electrophysiological procedures are also more often complicated by specific adverse events in a severely frail population. Despite these limitations, catheter ablation is the treatment of choice in less complex SVT, but the indications for AF ablation must be more individualized.