Open AccessREVIEW: Management of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients with Structural Heart Disease
Author(s) -
Jacobson Jason T.,
Weiner Justin B.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
cardiovascular therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1755-5922
pISSN - 1755-5914
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-5922.2010.00147.x
Subject(s) - medicine , catheter ablation , cardiology , ventricular tachycardia , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , cardiomyopathy , heart disease , etiology , intensive care medicine , population , disease , ischemic cardiomyopathy , heart failure , ablation , ejection fraction , environmental health
Patients with structural heart disease and ventricular tachycardia (VT) can be difficult to manage clinically. Many treatment options are available, but no single approach can be applied to every patient. This review aims to discuss the current options available for the management of this population. VT can be associated with cardiomyopathy of any etiology, both ischemic and nonischemic. Antiarhythmic drugs have not been shown to decrease mortality in this patient population, but they can help reduce episodes. While the advent of the implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator has revolutionized the treatment of VT, patients with recurrent shocks for VT have high morbidity and mortality. The development of catheter ablation over the past few decades has greatly aided the ability to control VT in these patients. The approach to patients with VT and structural heart disease is multifaceted. Often, a combination of therapeutic techniques is required to obtain the best result.