A total of 105 patients with prior RA incision who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of AT were included. In the first procedure, electroanatomic mapping (EAM) revealed a total of 139 ATs in 105 patients, including 88 cavotricuspid isthmus dependent atrial flutters (IDAFs), 5 mitral annulus reentrant tachycardias (MARTs), 44 intra-atrial reentrant tachycardias (IARTs) and 2 focal ATs (FATs). AT was successfully eliminated in 101 (96.1%) patients. During a mean follow-up period of 90 ± 36 months, recurrent AT was observed in 23 patients and 21 underwent a second ablation. A total of 23 ATs were identified in redo procedures including 4 IDAFs, 2 MARTs, 12 IARTs and 5 FATs. The time to recurrence was significantly different among various AT types. Acute success was achieved in 20 of 23 redo procedures. Taking a total of 21 patients presenting atrial fibrillation during follow-up into account, 85 patients (81.9%) were in sinus rhythm. No complications except for a case of RA compartmentation occurred.
RA incisional scar played an essential role in promoting both IDAF and IART, while non-incisional scar contributed to a substantial rate of late recurrent AT in forms of both macroreentry and small reentry. Catheter ablation using EAM system resulted in a high success rate during long-term follow-up.