Successful ablation of atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia in a patient with crisscross heart and situs inversus levocardia

J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2006 Nov;17(2):133-7. doi: 10.1007/s10840-007-9082-4. Epub 2007 Mar 9.

Abstract

Crisscross heart is a complex congenital anomaly that is rarely seen in the absence of important associated structural defects. We describe a 41-year-old woman with recurrent dizziness and tachycardia but no previous cardiovascular symptoms. Narrow-QRS tachycardia was detected, and magnetic resonance imaging showed situs inversus levocardia with a circulatory pattern typical of crisscross heart. Electrophysiologic study revealed atypical atrioventricular (AV) node reentry tachycardia of the "fast-slow" type. Despite the unusual anatomy, we successfully modified the AV node physiology by ablating the "slow AV node inputs" with the guidance of a multielectrode basket catheter in the anatomic right atrium.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / surgery*
  • Adult
  • Catheter Ablation*
  • Crisscross Heart / epidemiology*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Levocardia / epidemiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / epidemiology*
  • Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / surgery*