Catheter ablation guided by termination of postinfarction ventricular tachycardia by pacing with nonglobal capture.

OBJECTIVES: We prospectively investigated the prevalence and value of this criterion for identifying a target site for ablation in patients with postinfarction ventricular tachycardia (VT). BACKGROUND: Termination of postinfarction VT by pacing with nonglobal capture identifies a critical component of the reentrant circuit. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 34 patients with prior infarction (age 67 +/- 10 years, ejection fraction 0.26 +/- 0.1) referred for radiofrequency catheter ablation, mapping was performed in the left ventricle. At sites with abnormal electrograms, pacing was performed during VT. If VT terminated with nonglobal capture during the pacing train, radiofrequency energy was delivered. RESULTS: Sixty-two VTs (cycle length 450 +/- 84 ms) were mapped and targeted for radiofrequency ablation. Concealed entrainment was present at 101 endocardial sites. Among the 101 sites, VT terminated by pacing with nonglobal capture at 5 sites (5%). At 10 additional sites in 10 patients, VT terminated by pacing with nonglobal capture, and concealed entrainment could not be documented at these sites because of reproducible termination of the VT. An application of radiofrequency energy resulted in VT termination at all 15 sites where nonglobal capture was documented and the targeted VTs were no longer inducible after ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Termination of VT by pacing with nonglobal capture can be demonstrated in approximately one third of patients with postinfarction VT and is a specific criterion for identifying a critical component of the reentrant circuit, whether or not concealed entrainment can be documented at that site.     

Mechanism of Ventricular Tachycardia Termination by Pacing at Left Ventricular Sites in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Objective: The mechanism by which pacing terminates ventricular tachycardia (VT) may depend on the location of the pacing site relative to the reentry circuit. The purpose of this study was to compare the mechanisms by which pacing terminates VT at left ventricular (LV) sites with and without concealed entrainment (CE) in patients with prior myocardial infarction. Methods and Results: LV mapping was performed in 29 patients (26 men, 3 women, mean age 67±11 years, ejection fraction 0.28±0.11) with 55 hemodynamically-tolerated VTs (mean cycle length 478±92 msec). A total of 408 pacing trains were delivered at 102 sites with CE. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was successful in 41 of 55 VT's. At sites with concealed entrainment, VT was terminated by pacing at 17/41 (41%) successful and at 4/61 (7%) unsuccessful ablation sites (p<0.01). Termination without global ventricular capture was the most frequent termination mode (10/21), followed by termination with orthodromic (4/21) and non-orthodromic capture (7/21). Conclusion: In patients with prior myocardial infarction, pacing at sites of CE during VT usually terminates VT either without global capture or by orthodromic capture. Termination of VT by pacing without global capture or with orthodromic capture at sites of CE suggests that the site is within a critical area of the reentry circuit.     

Radiofrequency ablation of infarct scar-related ventricular tachycardia: correlation of electroanatomical data with post-mortem histology

Introduction: Histological data after VT ablation in humans is rare. We present a case of a patient who had ablation for VT storm and who died remotely from non-arrhythmic causes.
Methods and Results: A 69-year-old male with ischemic cardiomyopathy and a dual-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) presented with VT storm and multiple ICD therapies. A voltage map of the left-ventricular (LV) scar was created using CARTO™. VT was induced. An isochronal map identified the VT exit site at the scar border. No diastolic potentials were seen in this territory, so VT exit site ablation was performed, as well as at a putative entry site. VT cycle length and morphology changed during ablation, but termination only occurred with burst pacing. Post-ablation, the patient had no further shocks. He died seven months later from acute pancreatitis. The two ablation sites were identified on the post-mortem heart and used to correlate with the electroanatomical map. Scar area correlated well, measuring approximately 58.4 cm² macroscopically and 63.3 cm² on the electroanatomical map. Histology at VT exit site demonstrated areas of viable epicardial myocardium, suggesting that the circuit was at the epicardial scar border, which would explain the lack of diastolic potentials. Ablation scar did not reach the epicardium and therefore, ablation may have modified the exit site without complete interruption of the VT circuit.
Conclusions: In this case, ablation was unable to terminate the VT due to failure to reach the epicardium, but was sufficient to modify the tachycardia, thereby reducing ICD therapy.     

Ablation of epicardial macroreentrant ventricular tachycardia associated with idiopathic nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy by a percutaneous transthoracic approach

Characterization of the substrate and mechanism of epicardial ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with idiopathic nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy is limited. We report a case of successful mapping and ablation of an epicardial VT by a percutaneous transthoracic approach in a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, frequent VT, and previously unsuccessful endocardial ablation. Evidence of myocardial scar was limited to the epicardium. Electroanatomic and entrainment mapping defined a figure-of-eight macroreentrant circuit within the epicardial scar. VT terminated at the onset of low-power radiofrequency application to the central isthmus of the circuit. VT was no longer induced and did not recur during long-term follow-up.     

Endocardial and Epicardial Ablation Guided by Nonsurgical Transthoracic Epicardial Mapping to Treat Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia

Nonsurgical Epicardial Ablation. Introduction : An epicardial site of origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) may explain unsuccessful endocardial radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation. A new technique to map the epicardial surface of the heart through pericardial puncture was presented recently and opened the possibility of using epicardial mapping to guide endocardial ablation or epicardial catheter ablation. We report the efficacy and safety of these two approaches to treat 10 consecutive patients with VT and Chagas' disease.
Methods and Results : Epicardial mapping was carried out with a regular steerable catheter introduced into the pericardial space. An epicardial circuit was found in 14 of 18 mapable VTs induced in 10 patients. Epicardial mapping was used to guide endocardial ablation in 4 patients and epicardial ablation in 6. The epicardial earliest activation site occurred 107 ± 60 msec earlier than the onset of the QRS complex. At the epicardial site used to guide endocardial ablation, earliest activation occurred 75 ± 55 msec before the QRS complex. Epicardial mid-diastolic potentials and/or continuous electrical activity were seen in 7 patients. After 4.8 ± 2.9 seconds of epicardial RF applications, VT was rendered noninducible. Hemopericardium requiring drainage occurred in 1 patient; 3 others developed pericardial friction without hemopericardium. Patients remain asymptomatic 5 to 9 months after the procedure. Interruption during endocardial pulses occurred after 20.2 ± 14 seconds (P = 0.004), hut VT was always reinducible and the patients experienced a poor outcome.
Conclusion : Epicardial mapping does not enhance the effectiveness of endocardial pulses of RF. Epicardial applications of RF energy can safely and effectively treat patients with VT and Chagas' disease.     

Case Report: Alternating Exit Sites in Reentry Circuit of Ventricular Tachycardia with Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy – Relationship between Ablation Site and Inner Loop

We present a patient with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who had ventricular tachycardia (VT) with QRS morphology alternans. VTs of two QRS morphologies (VT1 and VT2) exhibiting a right bundle branch block pattern with inferior axis was induced by ventricular pacing. The morphology of the QRS complex during VT1 exhibited more distinctively inferior axis than those during VT2. Induced VTs had similar morphologies to clinically the documented VTs. Pacemapping at anterolateral site of the left ventricle during sinus rhythm produced the same QRS complex of VT1 in a surface 12-lead electrocardiogram. A mapping study was performed with an electrode catheter located at the same site of LV during sustained VT1. The analysis of the local electrograms and postpacing interval during concealed entrainment at the catheter mapping revealed this pacing site was at the inner loop of the reentry circuit. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed at this site. The morphology of VT1 changed to different QRS morphology (VT2) during the first delivery of radiofrequency energy and was terminated after 20 seconds of the application. Then VT with alternans of QRS morphology and cycle length of VT1 and VT2 was induced by ventricular pacing, and was abolished by the second application of radiofrequency energy at this same site, suggesting that this site was located in the exit site close to inner loop of the reentry circuit and the alternans of QRS morphology was linked to the change of exit site.     

Possible intramural site of reentrant circuit in ventricular tachycardia of nonischemic cause. Pre and intraoperative mapping studies.

A patient with a drug-refractory sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) of nonischemic cause was mapped for the site of VT origin. The intraoperative mapping showed the earliest site of activation of VT on the epicardial surface at which the initial deflection of the local electrogram preceded the onset of the QRS complex of VT by 45 msec. The endocardial mapping could not indicate the site at which the electrogram was found prior to the onset of the QRS complex of VT. However, at the earliest site of the endocardial mapping, VT was entrained without change in the configuration of the QRS complex. After cessation of the rapid pacing, VT resumed at the intrinsic rate and the first post-paced return cycle was identical to each paced cycle length. The interval from the stimulus to the orthodromically captured local electrogram at the pacing site was identical to the cycle length of VT. Catheter ablation from the endocardial side and a cryoablative procedure from the epicardial side failed to eradicate the VT. These findings suggest an intramural site of VT origin and reentrant circuit of which the exit and the entrance face the epicardial and the endocardial surfaces, respectively.     

Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Left Ventricular Tachycardia with Multiple Breakthrough Sites Guided by an Electroanatomical Mapping System

Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) has been considered to be amenable to radiofrequency catheter ablation guided by Purkinje potentials. However, there appear to be various types of reentrant circuits associated with this VT deduced from the results of the successful radiofrequency catheter ablation cases. We describe in this report a patient with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia which was electrically inducible and verapamil sensitive. Multiple earliest ventricular activation sites during tachycardia were detected with electroanatomical mapping using the CARTO system. Multiple applications at these sites failed to eliminate the VT. The earliest Purkinje potential was recorded at least 1.5[emsp4 ]cm away from the earliest ventricular activation sites, and the radiofrequency current application at this site resulted in the complete abolition of this VT. The reentrant circuit of this tachycardia seemed to have multiple breakthrough sites to the ventricular myocardium, which were distant from the requisite part of the reentrant circuit of this VT involving the Purkinje fiber network conduction system.     

Demonstration of diastolic and presystolic Purkinje potentials as critical potentials in a macroreentry circuit of verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the relation of diastolic and presystolic potentials recorded during verapamil-sensitive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVT) to reentry circuit. BACKGROUND: Successful ablation of verapamil-sensitive ILVT at the zone of slow conduction from which the diastolic potential is recorded has been reported. However, the relationship between the diastolic potential and the reentrant circuit remains a matter of debate. METHODS: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation was performed in 20 patients with verapamil-sensitive ILVT. After identifying the ventricular tachycardia (VT) exit site, we searched for the mid-diastolic potential (P1) during VT. Entrainment followed by RF current application was performed. If the mid-diastolic potential could not be detected, RF current was applied at the VT exit site showing the earliest ventricular activation with a single fused presystolic Purkinje potential (P2). RESULTS: In 15 of 20 patients, both P1 and P2 were recorded during VT from midseptal region. Entrainment pacing captured P1 orthodromically and reset the VT. The interval from stimulus to P1 was prolonged as the pacing rate was increased. Radiofrequency ablation was successfully performed at this site in all 15 patients. After successful ablation, P1 appeared after the QRS complex during sinus rhythm with the identical sequence to that during VT. In the remaining five patients, the diastolic potential could not be detected, and a single fused P2 was recorded only at the VT exit site. Successful ablation was performed at this site in all five patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that P1 and P2 are critical potentials in a circuit of verapamil-sensitive ILVT and suggests the presence of a macroreentry circuit involving the normal Purkinje system and the abnormal Purkinje tissue with decremental property and verapamil-sensitivity.     

Role of Epicardial Mapping in Catheter Ablation of Postmyocardial Infarction Ventricular Tachycardia

The role of epicardial mapping for radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of postmyocardial infarction monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is still under investigation. We present two septuagenarian patients with a history of myocardial infarction, poor left ventricular function, and drug-refractory monomorphic VT who were treated with RF catheter ablation. The first patient had a history of myocardial infarction, left ventricular aneurysm, and mitral valve replacement complicated by recurrent drug refractory VT and congestive heart failure. The second patient had ischemic cardiomyopathy and VT and was implanted with a cardioverter defibrillator and subsequently suffered repeated episodes of VT refractory to multiple antiarrhythmic drugs. In both patients, coronary sinus mapping was performed with a multipolar catheter as endocardial mapping did not reveal satisfactory sites for ablation. Epicardial catheter mapping provided stable electrograms and identification of areas of slow conduction during VT. RF lesions guided by epicardial mapping resulted in successful ablation of VT and no recurrence at long-term follow-up. This report emphasizes the potential usefulness of coronary sinus mapping as an adjuvant to endocardial mapping to guide VT ablation.     

Ethanol septal ablation for refractory ventricular tachycardia

It is not uncommon for patients with severe ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy to have recurrent ventricular arrhythmias. Many of these arrhythmias remain asymptomatic and can be controlled with beta-blockers or amiodarone. However, for a subset of these patients, the arrhythmia is persistent and requires antitachycardic pacing, internal defibrillation, or radiofrequency ablation therapy. We present a patient with end-stage nonischemic cardiomyopathy and recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) who was listed for cardiac transplantation. His VT was not responsive to medical management, and standard endocardial or epicardial VT radiofrequency ablation (VTRFA) procedures. Therefore, this patient underwent successful ethanol septal ablation (ESA) to obliterate the source of arrhythmia. Five days after the ablation procedure, he underwent cardiac transplantation. Therefore, this case presents a rare opportunity to review the use of ESA for refractory VT and an excellent opportunity to review the acute pathologic and histologic changes induced by ESA.     

Entrainment mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in right ventricular dysplasia

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine if entrainment mapping techniques and predictors of successful ablation sites previously tested in coronary artery disease can be applied to ventricular tachycardia (VT) in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD).Background. VT in ARVD has not been well characterized. Reentry circuits in areas of abnormal myocardium are the likely cause, but these circuits have not been well defined.Methods. Mapping of 19 VTs in 5 patients with ARVD was performed. At 58 sites pacing entrained VT and radiofrequency current (RF) was applied to assess acute termination of VT.Results. Sites classified as exits, central/proximal, inner loop, outer loop, remote bystander and adjacent bystander were identified by entrainment criteria. The reentrant circuit sites were clustered predominantly around the tricuspid annulus and in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). RF ablation acutely terminated VT at 13 sites or 22% of the applications. Of the 19 VTs, eight were rendered noninducible and three were modified to a longer cycle length. In 2 patients ablation at a single site abolished two VTs.Conclusion. VT in ARVD shows many of the characteristics of VT due to myocardial infarction. Entrainment mapping techniques can be used to characterize reentry circuits in ARVD. The use of entrainment mapping to guide ablation is feasible.     

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Multiple Morphologies of Ventricular Tachycardia by Targeting a Single Region of the Left Ventricle

Radiofrequency Ablation of Multiple VTs. Introduction : As treatment options for ventricular tachycardia (VT) continue to evolve, the use of radiofrequency catheter ablation is rapidly expanding. However, in the presence of multiple morphologies of VT, achieving successful results may seem less likely. We report two patients with multiple morphologies of VT who underwent successful radiofrequency ablation by application of adiofrequency energy to a single region in the left ventricle.
Methods and Results : Two patients, each without any apparent cardiac dysfunction and a history of documented VT, were referred to our institution for further management. They underwent an electrophysiologic study and were found to have easily inducible VT, of three morphologies in one patient and two in the other. Using a transaortic approach, left ventricular mapping was performed for detecting a site with presystolic potentials, earliest ventricular activation, or both. Application of radiofrequency energy to a single area in the left ventricle resulted in the elimination of all previously inducible VT in each patient.
Conclusion : VTs with distinctly different morphologies can occur in patients with no detectable structural heart disease. These VT circuits may share a common pathway and, therefore, may readily be amenable to therapy with radiofrequency catheter ablation.     

隐匿性拖带时起搏后间期与慢径消融成功靶点的关系

评价应用隐匿性拖带方法对准确靶点消融的有效性及探讨常规慢径靶点部位与房室结折返性心动过速(AVNRT)折返环的关系。可反复诱发的持续性典型AVNRT的患者 34例 ,消融导管在后或中间隔标测到A/V≤ 0 .5处 ,然后诱发心动过速 ,在高位右房 (HRA)和冠状窦口 (CSO)超速起搏产生隐匿性拖带 ,并按常规方法进行慢径消融。比较隐匿性拖带时靶点部位起搏后间期与心动过速周长的差值 (PPI-TCL值 )在成功靶点与不成功靶点区别。结果 :HRA超速起搏发生隐匿性拖带时 ,His束记录部位A波均为逆向夺获。而CSO超速起搏拖带时 ,32例His束记录部位A波为顺向夺获 ,另 2例为逆向夺获。在这 32例中共记录 5 4个靶点 ,成功靶点的PPI-TCL值明显小于不成功靶点 (12 .4± 5 .8msvs 32 .1± 18.6ms,P <0 .0 1)。PPI-TCL值≤ 2 0ms对靶点成功消融的敏感性和特异性分别为 84%、81%。结论 :本研究提示常规慢径消融成功部位作为房室结外的后部延伸组织参与组成AVNRT折返环或距其非常近。在可持续发作和诱发的AVNRT患者中 ,CSO部位起搏拖带顺向心房夺获时 ,靶点部位测出的PPI-TCL值≤ 2 0ms,可作为一种新的慢径路电生理定位消融方法     

Nonsurgical transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation to treat recurrent ventricular tachycardia occurring late after myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate feasibility, safety and results of transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation in patients with ventricular tachycardia occurring late after an inferior wall myocardial infarction. BACKGROUND: Transthoracic epicardial catheter ablation effectively controls recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with Chagas' disease in whom epicardial circuits predominate. Epicardial circuits also occur in postinfarction VT. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients aged 53.6 +/- 14.5 years with postinfarction VT related to the inferior wall were studied. The VT cycle length was 412 +/- 51 ms. Two patients had previously undergone unsuccessful standard endocardial radiofrequency energy (RF) ablation. The VT was incessant in one patient. Left ventricular angiography showed inferior akinesia in 13 patients and an inferior aneurysm in 1 patient. Ablation was performed with a regular steerable catheter placed into the pericardial sac by pericardial puncture. RESULTS: The pericardial space was reached in all patients. Electrophysiologic evidence of an epicardial circuit was present in 7 of 30 VTs. Due to a high stimulation threshold, empirical thermal mapping was the only criterion used to select the site for ablation. Three VTs were interrupted during the first RF pulse. Two pulses were necessary to render it noninducible in 3 patients (1 VT per patient). In the remaining 4 VTs, 3, 3, 4 and 5 RF pulses, respectively, were used. The overall success was 37.14% (95% confidence interval, 11.83% to 62.45%). Patients are asymptomatic for 14 +/- 2 months. CONCLUSIONS: Postinfarction pericardial adherence does not preclude epicardial mapping and ablation to control VT related to an epicardial circuit in postinferior wall myocardial infarction.     

Epicardial Macro-Reentrant Ventricular Tachycardia Exhibiting an Endocardial Centrifugal Activation Pattern in a Case with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

A 55-year-old man with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy underwent catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) with left bundle branch block and left superior axis QRS morphology with an early precordial transition. Endocardial mapping during the VT revealed a focal activation pattern from a small region of low voltage in the left ventricular (LV) septum. Despite earliest endocardial activation in the LV septum, epicardial mapping demonstrated a macro-reentrant circuit with successful catheter ablation at an inferior peritricuspid annular site. Activation from the reentrant circuit propagated through the scar area in the epicardial right ventricle to the remote endocardial LV breakout site.     

Comparison of mapping criteria for hemodynamically tolerated, postinfarction ventricular tachycardia

BACKGROUND: Mapping criteria for hemodynamically tolerated, postinfarction ventricular tachycardia (VT) have been evaluated in only small series of patients. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of various mapping criteria for identifying a critical VT circuit isthmus in a post hoc analysis. METHODS: Ninety VTs (cycle length 491 +/- 84 ms) were mapped in 48 patients with a prior myocardial infarction. The mapping catheter was positioned within a protected area of the reentrant circuit of the targeted VTs at 176 sites. All sites showed concealed entrainment. The predictive values of the following mapping criteria for a successful ablation site were compared: discrete isolated potential during VT, inability to dissociate the isolated potential from the VT, endocardial activation time >70 ms, matching electrogram-QRS and stimulus-QRS intervals, VT termination without global capture during pacing, stimulus-QRS/VT cycle length ratio 相似文献   

Pathological autopsy of a patient that underwent a successful ablation of an electrical storm from the left ventricular summit

A 65-year-old man with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, underwent an autopsy 2 months after the successful ablation of a sustained left ventricular (LV) summit ventricular tachycardia (VT). The patient died due to interstitial pneumonia from amiodarone use. The earliest activation sites of the VT were documented from both inside the anterior interventricular vein (AIV) and epicardial surface. The diameter of the AIV was 3–4 mm, and the radiofrequency (RF) lesion inside the AIV was a slight lesion due to high impedance with a high temperature. The lesion from the epicardial surface was also superficial and insufficient due to neighboring coronary arteries and the existence of epicardial fat. A successful application was performed from the LV endocardium, and diffuse myocardial fibrosis was observed in the mid-myocardium including inside the RF lesions. The actual relationship between the myocardial fibrosis and LV summit VT remains unclear, but this case showed the difficulty of achieving a successful ablation from the epicardial side, when the focus exists in the mid-myocardium around the LV summit.     

Usefulness of body surface maps to demonstrate ventricular activation patterns during left ventricular pacing and reentrant activation during ventricular tachycardia in men with coronary heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction

Epicardial electrical events were reconstructed using an inverse model for left ventricular (LV) pacing and during ventricular tachycardia (VT) induced during implantation of a biventricular pacemaker and/or internal defibrillator. The electrocardiographic position of the pacing lead, determined from the region of most negative potential 30 ms after the pacing spike, was compared with the radiographic position. Activation characterized by isochronal maps was correlated with the echocardiographic/myocardial scintigraphic data. Reconstructed epicardial isopotential/isochronal maps during VT were used to determine the presence of reentry. In 7 patients during LV pacing, epicardial isopotential maps located the maximum negative potentials anterolaterally (n = 3), posterolaterally (n = 2), and posteriorly (n = 2). Isochronal maps demonstrated activation patterns including regions of delayed activation that, in 5 patients, correlated with areas of akinesia/hypokinesia or fixed defects on echocardiography/myocardial scintigraphy. The mean difference between the radiographically measured right ventricular to LV pacing lead distance and calculated electrocardiographic right ventricular to LV pacing site distance was 1.7 cm. During VT, induced in 5 patients, single-loop reentry was observed in 3 and figure-of-8 reentry in 2. Exit site and regions of fast/slow conduction and conduction block that correlated with anatomic areas of infarction defined by echocardiography/myocardial scintigraphy were demonstrated. In conclusion, epicardial maps reconstructed from the body surface map can identify LV pacing sites and demonstrate reentry during VT. The body surface map could thus identify optimal pacing sites for LV pacing and targets for VT ablation.     

Substrate mapping vs. tachycardia mapping using CARTO in patients with coronary artery disease and ventricular tachycardia: impact on outcome of catheter ablation.

AIMS: For ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients after myocardial infarction, a three-dimensional mapping system is often used. We report on our overall success rate of VT ablation using CARTO in 47 patients, with a subgroup analysis comparing VT mapping with the results of mapping that had to be performed during sinus rhythm or pacing (substrate mapping). METHODS AND RESULTS: A CARTO map was performed and VT ablation attempted using two strategies: Patients in the VT-mapping group had incessant VT (four patients) or inducible stable VT (18 patients) such that the circuit of the clinical VT could be reconstructed using CARTO. During VT, the critical area of slow conduction was identified using diastolic potentials and conventional concealed entrainment pacing. In contrast, patients in the substrate-mapping group had initially inducible VT. However, a complete VT map was not possible because of catheter-induced mechanical block (six patients) or because haemodynamics deteriorated during the ongoing VT (19 patients). Therefore, pathological myocardium was identified by fragmented, late- and/or low-amplitude (<1.5 mV) bipolar potentials during sinus rhythm or pacing, and the ablation site was primarily determined by pace mapping inside or at the border of this pathological myocardium. Acute ablation success in all patients with regard to non-inducibility of the clinical VT or any slower VT was 79% after a single ablation procedure, but increased to 95% after a mean of 1.2 ablation procedures. However, chronic success was 75%, when it was defined as freedom from any ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT or VF) during a follow-up of 25+/-13 months. In the subgroup analysis, patients in the VT-mapping group were not significantly different from patients in the substrate-mapping group with regard to age (65+/-7 vs. 65+/-9 years), ejection fraction (30+/-7 vs. 30+/-8%), VT cycle length (448+/-81 vs. 429+/-82 ms), number of radiofrequency applications (17+/-9 vs. 14+/-6 applications), use of an irrigated tip catheter (23 vs. 32%), and ablation results. CONCLUSION: When using a CARTO-guided approach for VT ablation in patients with coronary artery disease, the freedom from any ventricular arrhythmia is high (75%), but leaves the patient at a 23% risk of developing fast VT/VF during follow-up. Mapping during sinus rhythm or pacing is as successful as mapping during VT.