INFLUENCE OF CATHETER ABLATION OF PAROXYSMAL SUPRAVENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA ON PATIENTS' ANXIETY.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of catheter ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia on patients' anxiety levels. We investigated 70 consecutive patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT), AV Reentrant Tachycardia (AVRT) or Atrial Tachycardia (AT)) who underwent a catheter ablation. The patients filled out the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the ablation on the day of the procedure and after 3 months of a successful catheter ablation. State and trait anxiety scores were compared before and after 3 months of ablation. The results were analyzed between different age (<50 vs ≥50 y), gender and the type of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (AVNRT vs AVRT/AT). Both state and trait anxiety scores improved significantly after catheter ablation. State anxiety score improved from mean 42.21±9.53 to 31.43±8.02 (p<0.001). Trait anxiety score improved from mean 45.76±7.80 to 39.80±7.33 (p<0.001). Present study demonstrates that the radiofrequency catheter ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia by providing cure and eliminating the arrhythmia episodes significantly reduces both situational and general anxiety levels.