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Safety and Feasibility of Open Chest Epicardial Mapping and Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia During the Period of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation
Author(s) -
PATEL MEHUL,
ROJAS FRANCIA,
SHABARI FARSHAD RAISSI,
SIMPSON LEO,
COHN WILLIAM,
FRAZIER O.H.,
MALLIDI HARI,
CHENG JIE,
MATHURIA NILESH
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/jce.12839
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , ventricular tachycardia , ablation , catheter ablation , tachycardia , ventricular assist device , heart failure
Epicardial VT Ablation During LVAD Implantation Introduction Patients undergoing catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) may require epicardial mapping. In patients with end‐stage heart failure, hybrid surgical epicardial mapping and ablation during the period of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation may be considered in select patients to reduce post‐LVAD ventricular tachycardia. Methods and Results From March 2009 to October 2012, 5 patients (4 men and 1 woman, age range 52–73 years) underwent open chest electrophysiology study and epicardial mapping for recurrent ventricular tachycardia while the heart was exposed during the period of LVAD implantation. Epicardial mapping was considered if patients had recurrent VT despite failed prior endocardial ablation and/or electrocardiogram (EKG) features of an epicardial exit. Activation and/or a substrate mapping approach were employed during all procedures. Three of 5 patients (60%) had acute procedural success. In all patients, VT was either eliminated or significantly reduced with epicardial ablation. One patient had mediastinal bleeding delaying sternal closure. During a follow‐up period of 363 ± 368 days, 4 patients died due to nonarrhythmic causes. Conclusions Open‐chest hybrid epicardial mapping and ablation for recurrent VT is feasible and can be considered in select patients during the period of LVAD implantation.