Successful Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Flutter Causing Hemodynamic Instability in a Patient with Recent Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Atrial flutter (AFL) is a common arrhythmia which may decrease cardiac output and may cause embolic events. Direct current (DC) cardioversion, medical cardioversion and radiofrequency (RF) ablation are therapeutic options, but over all RF ablation therapy has the longest event free period. Although development of AFL after myocardial infarction is quite common it may spontaneously recover or results in atrial fibrillation. Herein we report a patient with medical and electrical cardioversion resistant AFL which developed in the early post- myocardial infarction period causing hemodynamic instability, who was successfully treated with RF catheter ablation.