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Electroanatomically Guided Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardias Causing Multiple Defibrillator Shocks
Author(s) -
SRA JASBIR,
BHATIA ATUL,
DHALA ANWER,
BLANCK ZALMEN,
DESHPANDE SANJAY,
COOLEY RYAN,
AKHTAR MASOOD
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2001.01645.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ablation , catheter ablation , cardiology , sinus rhythm , amiodarone , refractory (planetary science) , ventricular tachycardia , catheter , refractory period , surgery , atrial fibrillation , physics , astrobiology
SRA, J., et al. : Electroanatomically Guided Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardias Causing Multiple Defibrillator Shocks. With conventional techniques, RF catheter ablation is difficult in patients with unstable VT or with multiple VTs. The feasibility of RF catheter ablation guided by three‐dimensional electroanatomic mapping technique in patients whose implanted ICD continued to deliver multiple shocks due to VT despite use of antiarrhythmic medications was assessed in 19 patients (15 men, 4 women; mean age [± SD] 70 ± 7 years). All had a prior history of MI and subsequently had received an ICD due to VT. During the 12‐week preablation period, these patients received 31 ± 15 shocks (range 4–62 shocks) due to refractory monomorphic VTs. An electroanatomic mapping technique using the CARTO system was performed to delineate scar tissue. RF catheter ablation was then performed at appropriate sites identified by pacemapping and by substrate mapping. Seventeen patients were on amiodarone at the time of ablation. Twenty‐seven VTs were documented clinically, and 45 were induced during electrophysiological evaluation. Of the 45 tachycardias induced, 38 VTs were targeted for ablation. Catheter ablation was performed during sinus rhythm in 31 episodes and during VT in 7 episodes. During a mean follow‐up of 26 ± 8 weeks (range 18–48 weeks), 13 (66%) patients had no recurrence of VT (P < 0.0001) and antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued or the number of medications reduced in 17 patients (P < 0.0001). Electroanatomic mapping is helpful in identifying sites for catheter ablation in highly symptomatic patients with refractory VT associated with myocardial scarring.