Role of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia associated with structural heart disease

In patients with structural heart disease, ventricular tachycardia (VT) worsens the clinical condition and may severely affect the shortand long-term prognosis. Several therapeutic options can be considered for the management of this arrhythmia. Among others, catheter ablation, a closed-chest therapy, can prevent arrhythmia recurrences by abolishing the arrhythmogenic substrate. Over the last two decades, different techniques have been developed for an effective approach to both tolerated and untolerated VTs. The clinical outcome of patients undergoing ablation has been evaluated in multiple studies. This editorial gives an overview of the role, methodology, clinical outcome and innovative approaches in catheter ablation of VT.     

Clinical outcomes of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: Insights from the Johns Hopkins ARVC Program

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心室反应在射频消融特发性室性心动过速中作用的临床研究

目的　探讨心室反应 (VR)在射频消融IVT的作用。方法　应用体表心电图、心内膜激动标测及VR相结合的方法射频消融 13例IVT病人。以激动标测初选靶点 ,射频消融试放电产生的VR确定靶点 ,采用VR与VT发作相一致处为靶点消融。结果　 13例IVT即刻消融成功率 13/ 13。VR表现 :(1)窦性心律下消融时出现与VT发作相一致的VR。随后室性心动过速 (VT)中间断出现窦性心律、双发或联律室性早搏 ,最终完全恢复成窦性心律。 (2 )出现与VT发作不一致的VR。结论　以VR与VT发作相一致处作靶点 ,产生与VT发作相一致的VR可被视为有效消融的指标。     

Effect of first ventricular tachycardia cycle length on rate of ventricular arrhythmia recurrence in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Background

Some controversies exist regarding the proper treatment of hemodynamically tolerated and slow ventricular tachycardia (VT). We intended to assess the effect of cycle length of first VT episode on total ventricular arrhythmia burden in a cohort of patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Method

Between March 2000 and March 2005, 195 patients underwent ICD implantation at our center. We included 158 patients (mean age, 58.3 ± 12.9 years) with follow-up of 3 months or more in this study. Clinical, electrocardiographic, and ICD-stored data and electrograms were collected and analyzed.

Results

During the follow-up of 16.7 ± 10.6 months, 45 (28.5%) and 20 (12.6%) patients received first appropriate ICD therapy for VT and ventricular fibrillation, respectively. We divided the 45 patients with VT (based on the median value of VT cycle length) into 2 groups. Although patients with VT cycle length of less than 350 had higher total mean number of appropriate ICD therapy (25 vs 6.3, P = .023), during multivariate regression analysis, only left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) of less than 25% (P = .020) was correlated with total number of appropriate ICD therapy. First VT cycle length (P = .341), QRS duration (P = .126), age (P = .405), underlying heart disease (P = .310), indication of ICD implantation (P = .113), and sex (P = .886) have failed to predict the total burden of ventricular arrhythmia during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

After adjustment for left ventricular EF, initial VT cycle length per se did not confer a lower risk for subsequent ventricular arrhythmia recurrence compared with those with faster VT. Left ventricular EF of less than 25% was correlated with higher ventricular arrhythmia burden in patients with ICD.     

室性心动过速合并室上性心动过速的射频消融

目的报道7例室性心动过速（VT）合并室上性心动过速（sVT）的射频消融。方法7例患者男6例,女1例,平均年龄（21±9）岁。阵发性心动过速病史（3．7±2．0）年。术中心房和心室刺激诱发VT和SVT,并进行消融。结果7例患者心房或心室刺激能反复诱发和终止VT合并SVT。法洛四联症矫治术后右心室VT合并三尖瓣环峡部依赖性心房扑动（AFL）1例,其余6例均为维拉帕米敏感性左心室特发性室速（ILVT）,分别合并AFL1例,左后间隔旁路参与的顺向型房室折返性心动过速（AVRT）1例,冠状静脉窦口慢旁路参与的顺向型AVRT1例,慢慢型房室结折返性心动过速（AVNRT）1例,左侧游离壁旁路参与的顺向型AVRT2例。7例患者的两种心动过速均成功消融,所有患者消融术后随访2年,无一例VT或SVT复发。结论VT合并SVT并不少见,消融术中应放置必需的心腔内电极导管,完成详细电生理检查,避免漏诊。一次消融应根除两种疾病。     

Evaluation of morphology discrimination for ventricular tachycardia diagnosis in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

BACKGROUND: To reduce inappropriate therapy from implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), electrogram morphology discrimination has been developed to improve arrhythmia discrimination without compromising device safety. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of the morphology discrimination algorithm for detecting ventricular tachycardia (VT). METHODS: Stored electrograms of 795 tachyarrhythmias from 106 patients with a St. Jude Medical ICD (51 single-chamber and 55 dual-chamber) were analyzed by the investigators. The data were analyzed for morphology discrimination alone, sudden onset and stability, and morphology discrimination in combination with sudden onset and stability. Data were corrected for multiple episodes within a patient with the generalized estimating equation method. RESULTS: Using the nominal template match of 60%, morphology discrimination alone provided sensitivity and specificity of 78% and 95% for single-chamber ICDs and 63% and 92% for dual-chamber ICDs, respectively. Based on the receiver operator characteristic curve, the optimal-match percent threshold was 80% to 85% but at the expense of specificity. Morphology discrimination combined with sudden onset and stability increased sensitivity to 98% with specificity of 86% in single-chamber devices. In dual-chamber devices, the loss in sensitivity is compensated by rate branch analysis, yielding a sensitivity of 98%. CONCLUSION: Arrhythmia discrimination based on electrogram morphology has the potential to reject atrial tachyarrhythmias. However, there is a risk for underdetection of ventricular tachyarrhythmias if arrhythmia discrimination is primarily based on morphology. To guarantee patient safety in single-chamber devices, the morphology discrimination algorithm must be programmed in combination with established detection algorithms. In dual-chamber devices, loss of sensitivity is compensated by the V > A rate branch.     

Anatomic characterization of endocardial substrate for hemodynamically stable reentrant ventricular tachycardia: Identification of endocardial conducting channels

BACKGROUND: Detailed anatomic characterization of endocardial substrate of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is limited. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the endocardial dimensions and local electrogram voltage characteristics of the reentrant circuit. VT-related conducting channels corresponding to zones of slow conduction may be identified. METHODS: Electroanatomic mapping was performed in 26 patients with uniform VT. Entrainment mapping was performed in 53 VTs, of which 19 entrance, 37 isthmus, 48 exit, and 32 outer loop sites were identified. The color display of voltage maps was adjusted to identify conducting channels associated with VT circuits. A conducting channel was defined as a path of multiple orthodromically activated sites within the VT circuit that demonstrated an electrogram amplitude higher than that of surrounding areas as evidenced by voltage color differences. RESULTS: Forty-seven (84%) of 56 entrance or isthmus sites were located within dense scar (<0.5 mV). Nearly all exits (92%) were located in abnormal endocardium (<1.5 mV), with more than half (54%) located in the border zone (0.5-1.5 mV). VT-related conducting channels was identified in 18 of 32 VTs with detailed mapping (average length 32 +/- 22 mm). The voltage threshold in the conducting channels ranges from 0.1 to 0.7 mV (mean 0.33 +/- 0.15 mV). CONCLUSION: (1) Most entrance and isthmus sites of hemodynamically stable VT are located in dense scar, whereas exits are located in the border zone. (2) VT-related conducting channels may be identified by careful voltage threshold adjustment. These findings have important implications regarding strategies for substrate-based VT ablation.     

Mini-electrodes help identifying hidden slow conduction during ventricular tachycardia substrate ablation

A 69-year-old male with dilated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and history of sustained monomorphic VT (SMVT) underwent an unsuccessful VT substrate ablation due to the proximity of the earliest activation site to the conduction system. A second attempt was performed using an ablation catheter with mini-electrodes (ME) and multiple extrastimuli to unveil hidden slow conduction (HSC) sites, allowing the performance of a successful ablation. No SMVT was induced thereafter.ME-obtained electrograms permit to accurately localize areas of HSC sites within ventricular tachycardia (VT) substrates. In our case, this allowed safe ablation during sinus rhythm to eliminate the VT substrate.     

房颤射频消融术术后AF早期复发的预测因素

房颤(AF)是临床上最常见的一种心律失常。AF射频消融术作为一种非药物治疗AF的手段正被广泛利用,但术后AF的复发率较高。早期有研究显示,高龄、超重和肥胖、病程、左房内径、左房疤痕和纤维化等为预测AF消融术术后AF复发的相关因素。最新研究显示,阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征、伴有慢性肾脏疾病、4q25等位基因多态性等对AF早期复发的预测具有一定的意义。     

射频消融治疗特发性室性心动过速疗效观察

目的 :评价射频消融术治疗特发性室性心动过速 (室速 )临床疗效。方法 :5 6例特发性室速患者中 ,34例左室特发性室速采用EPT小、中弯大头导管 (或Webstr小弯大头 ) ,在左室行激动顺序标测和消融 ,以P电位较QRS起点提前 2 0ms以上作为消融靶点。 2 2例右室流出道室速采用Webster加硬导管在右室流出道行起搏标测 ,以起搏时与心动过速时体表 12导联QRS形态完全相同或最接近处为消融靶点 ,成功标准为放电过程中心动过速终止且不能诱发。结果 :5 1例患者消融成功 ,成功率 91.1%。 34例左室特发性室速中 30例靶点位于左室间隔中下部 ,2例近左室心尖 ,1例左室流出道 ,1例位于间隔高位。 31例消融成功 ,1例失败 ,2例因导管到达间隔处机械刺激终止室速而不能再诱发 ,于终止室速处作为靶点射频消融 ,1例于术后第 2天、另 1例半年后室速复发。 2 2例右室流出道室速 ,16例位于流出道间隔侧 ,6例位于流出道游离侧壁。 19例起搏标测到与心动过速 12导联QRS形态完全相同靶点 ,1例形态接近 ,消融获成功。 2例未能诱发室速 ,射频消融 1个月心动过速重新出现 ,所有患者无并发症出现。结论 :射频消融术对特发性室速是一种安全有效的治疗方法 ,可作为首选治疗。电生理未诱发室速或机械刺激终止室速不宜尝试射频消融治疗。     

Electrocardiographic predictors of long-term outcomes after radiofrequency ablation in patients with right-ventricular outflow tract tachycardia.

AIMS: The objectives of this study were to identify electrocardiographic (ECG) predictors of long-term outcomes after radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients with right-ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS: We correlated ECG characteristics with RF ablation outcomes in 144 patients with RVOT tachycardia who underwent RF ablation for >1 year. Unfavourable RF ablation outcomes were predefined as unsuccessful RF ablation or recurrence of tachycardia requiring repeated ablation. RF ablation was not successful in 11 (7.6%) patients and 16 (12%) patients had arrhythmia recurrence requiring repeated ablation. Average follow-up time was 72.2+/-28.4 months. Selected parameters from univariate analysis included number of RF applications, pacemapping, application of bonus burn, procedure time, monophasic R-wave in lead I, QS pattern in leads I and aVL, QRS duration in leads II and V(2), and right axis deviation, in ventricular tachycardia. From logistic regression analysis, only monophasic R-wave in lead I remained in the final equation (P=0.004, odds ratio 12.9). CONCLUSION: Monophasic R-wave in lead I during RVOT tachycardia is associated with unfavourable outcomes after RF ablation. This finding may help clinicians in the selection of patients for RF ablation and for the prediction of RF ablation outcome.     

Myocardial dissection following successful chemical ablation of ventricular tachycardia.

We describe a case of fatal myocardial rupture and tamponade following a successful transcoronary chemical ablation of incessant ventricular tachycardia. Pathological examination showed a subepicardial dissection of the heart at the ablation site with fibrous and fatty degeneration of the myocardium. The present report calls for caution, underlying a possible lethal complication of ethanol ablation which has not been described before.     

经导管射频消融治疗室性心动过速的疗效观察

室性心动过速是临床上较常见的心律失常,可发生于健康人群和各种心脏病患者。由于其可造成严重的症状甚至危及生命,因而需要积极处理,目前导管射频消融已逐渐成为首选治疗。我院近2年经导管射频消融治疗室性心律失常患者11例,现报道如下,以评价其临床疗效及安全性。