What is the common procedural treatment option for AVNRT?

• A. Catheter ablation of the slow AV nodal pathway
• B. Beta-blocker therapy
• C. Catheter ablation of the fast AV nodal pathway
• D. Electrical cardioversion

Answer: (A)

AVNRT is driven by a reentrant circuit that uses a slow and a fast pathway near the AV node. Ablating the slow AV nodal pathway interrupts that reentry, effectively curing the tachycardia while preserving sufficient AV conduction. This makes slow-pathway catheter ablation the standard procedural option because it offers a high cure rate with a low risk of permanent AV block when done carefully. Medications like beta-blockers can control symptoms but don’t eliminate the underlying circuit, and electrical cardioversion only terminates the current episode without preventing recurrence. Ablation of the fast pathway is riskier for AV block, so it’s not the preferred approach.