Endocardial mapping of right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia using noncontact activation mapping

INTRODUCTION: Activation mapping and pace mapping identify successful ablation sites for catheter ablation of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia. These methods are limited in patients with nonsustained tachycardia or isolated ventricular ectopic beats. We investigated the feasibility of using noncontact mapping to guide the ablation of RVOT arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine patients with RVOT tachycardia and three patients with ectopic beats were studied using noncontact mapping. A multielectrode array catheter was introduced into the RVOT and tachycardia was analyzed using a virtual geometry. The earliest endocardial activation estimated by virtual electrograms was displayed on an isopotential color map and measured 33 +/- 13 msec before onset of QRS. Virtual unipolar electrograms at this site demonstrated QS morphology. Guided by a locator signal, ablation was performed with a mean of 6.9 +/- 2.2 radiofrequency deliveries. Acute success was achieved in all patients. During follow-up, one patient had a recurrence of RVOT tachycardia. Compared with patients (n = 21) who underwent catheter ablation using a conventional approach, a higher success rate was achieved by noncontact mapping. Procedure time was significantly longer in the noncontact mapping group. Fluoroscopy time was not significantly different in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Noncontact mapping can be used as a reliable tool to identify the site of earliest endocardial activation and to guide the ablation procedure in patients with RVOT tachycardia and in patients with ectopic beats originating from the RVOT.     

Cryocatheter ablation of right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia

INTRODUCTION: Cryocatheter techniques have been successfully applied to treat supraventricular tachycardia but there are no reports on their value in treating ventricular tachycardia (VT). We present our initial experience with cryocatheter ablation of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cryocatheter ablation was attempted in 14 patients (13 females, age 45.9 +/- 12.7 years) who were highly symptomatic due to frequent monomorphic ventricular extrasystole (VES) or nonsustained VT originating within the RVOT. A 9-Fr, 8-mm-tip cryocatheter was used for both mapping and ablation. Cryoablation was started after localizing the arrhythmic focus by pace and activation mapping. Ablation success, defined by complete disappearance of target VES/VT acutely and during a follow-up of 9.3 +/- 1.4 weeks, was achieved in 13 of 14 patients. Ablation was successful with local activation times of 35 +/- 4 ms, 5.8 +/- 3.3 applications, 18.8 +/- 7.5 minutes total cryo time, 9.4 +/- 4.2 minutes fluoroscopy time, and 66.9 +/- 26.1 minutes total procedure time, the latter two measures showing a reduction with number of patients treated. Three patients reported slight pain related to local pressure of the catheter on the RVOT wall. No pain was described related to delivery of cryothermal energy. CONCLUSIONS: Initial experience shows that focal VES/VT originating in the RVOT can be successfully treated using cryocatheter ablation. Acute and short term success rates, fluoroscopy times, and duration of procedure are comparable to conventional ablation techniques. A major advantage seems to be the virtual absence of ablation related pain.     

Catheter ablation of right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia: value of defining coronary anatomy

INTRODUCTION: Thermal damage to coronary arteries during catheter ablation has been previously reported. Coronary artery damage during LV outflow tract ventricular tachycardia is well recognized. However, the relationship of the coronary arteries to the RV outflow tract during catheter ablation has not been delineated. The purpose of this study was to define the relationship between the RV outflow tract and the coronary arteries utilizing arteriography, echocardiography, CT angiography, and gross anatomic pathology. METHODS: The relationship of the coronaries to the RV outflow tract was analyzed in three patients groups: Group 1: patients (n = 10) undergoing RV outflow tract ventricular tachycardia; Group 2: patients (n = 50) undergoing CT coronary angiography; Group 3: patients (n = 4) undergoing echocardiography during open heart surgery and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (n = 5). RESULTS: Group 1: The left main coronary artery was found to be 3.8 +/- 1.2 mm from the right ventricular outflow tract in patients undergoing ablation. Group 2: The minimum distance between the left main, left anterior descending, and right coronary artery to the RV outflow tract endocardial wall were 4.1 +/- 1.9 mm, 2.0 +/- 0.6 mm, and 4.3 +/- 1.9 mm (average +/- SD) respectively. Group 3: During open heart surgery using echocardiography, the minimum distance between the left main and the right coronary artery to the RV outflow tract were 3.4 +/- 0.35 mm and 2.0 +/- 0.1 mm, respectively. The distance between the let main coronary artery and the RVOT by ICE was 3.8 +/- 0.45 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The major coronary arteries lie in close proximity of the RVOT, and their anatomic course should be taken into consideration during ablation of ventricular tachycardias arising from the RV outflow tract.     

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia presenting as right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia.

A case of a 51-year old male is presented. A left bundle branch block inferior axis tachycardia was manifest. At electrophysiological study this tachycardia was inducible and was ablated in the septal right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Two other tachycardias were identified both with right bundle branch block (RBBB) morphology raising the suspicion of diffuse pathology. Arrythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) was confirmed by right ventricular angiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implanted and an appropriate shock was later delivered.     

Electrocardiographic characteristics of repetitive monomorphic right ventricular tachycardia originating near the His-bundle

INTRODUCTION: Most idiopathic nonreentrant ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) arise from the right or left ventricular outflow tract (OT). However, some right ventricular (RV) VT/VPCs originate near the His-bundle region. The aim of this study was to investigate ECG characteristics of VT/VPCs originating near the His-bundle in comparison with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT)-VT/VPCs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety RV-VT/VPC patients underwent catheter mapping and radiofrequency ablation. ECG variables were compared between VT/VPCs originating from the RVOT and near the His-bundle. Ten patients had foci near the His-bundle (HIS group), with the His-bundle local ventricular electrogram preceding the QRS onset by 15-35 msec (mean: 22 msec) and His-bundle pacing produced a nearly identical ECG to clinical VT/VPCs. The HIS group R wave amplitude in the inferior leads (lead III: 1.0 +/- 0.6 mV) was significantly lower than that of the RVOT group (1.7 +/- 0.4 mV, P < 0.05). An R wave in aVL was present in 6 of 10 HIS group patients, while almost all RVOT group patients had a QS pattern in aVL. Lead I in HIS group exhibited significantly taller R wave amplitudes than RVOT group. HIS group QRS duration in the inferior leads was shorter than that of the RVOT group. Eight of 10 HIS group patients exhibited a QS pattern in lead V1 compared to 14 of 81 RVOT group patients. HIS group had larger R wave amplitudes in leads V5 and V6 than RVOT group. CONCLUSION: VT/VPCs originating near the His-bundle have distinctive ECG characteristics. Knowledge of the characteristic QRS morphology may facilitate catheter mapping and successful ablation.     

射频导管消融特发性左心室流出道室性心动过速

目的 探讨特发性左心室流出道室性心动过速(室速)心电图特点及射频导管消融结果。方法 对5例未发现器质性心脏病的左心室流出道室速患者行12导联心电图、动态心电图、心内电生理检查及射频导管消融治疗。结果5例患者心电图Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVF导联呈R波；Ⅰ导联呈rs或QS波，振幅大于0．5mV；V1导联呈rs或RS波，胸前导联R波移行发生于V2～V3；aVR和aVL导联呈QS波，3例患者的消融靶点在左冠状窦口内，2例位于主动脉瓣下，随访6个月，无1例复发。结论 左心室流出道室速有特殊心电图表现，射频导管消融是首选的治疗措施。     

Acute coronary artery occlusion and ischemia-related ventricular tachycardia during catheter ablation in the right ventricular outflow tract

Coronary artery injury is a rare complication of catheter ablation in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Furthermore, acute myocardial ischemia usually causes polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation. We herein describe a case in which catheter ablation for VT originating from the RVOT provoked ischemia-related VTs due to acute occlusion of the left anterior descending artery.     

Macroreentrant ventricular tachycardia mimicking focal ventricular tachycardia in a case with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

A 67-year-old man with ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) underwent electrophysiologic testing. Electroanatomic mapping during the VT seemed to reveal a focal mechanism from near the tricuspid annulus (TA). Several radiofrequency applications delivered at the presumed focus resulted in termination but re-induction of the VT. Additional electroanatomic mapping underneath the TA led to the diagnosis of macroreentrant VT. Several RF applications targeting isolated and late potentials observed there during sinus rhythm eliminated the VT. In ARVC cases, detailed mapping underneath the TA should be performed to reveal the VT mechanism, resulting in suppressing VT recurrences. There was no financial support for this study.     

Right and left ventricular outflow tract tachycardias: evidence for a common electrophysiologic mechanism

Introduction: "Idiopathic" ventricular arrhythmias most often arise from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), although arrhythmias from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) are also observed. While previous work has elucidated the mechanism and electropharmacologic profile of RVOT arrhythmias, it is unclear whether those from the LVOT share these properties. The purpose of this study was to characterize the electropharmacologic properties of RVOT and LVOT arrhythmias.
Methods and Results: One hundred twenty-two consecutive patients  (61 male; 50.9 ± 15.2 years)  with outflow tract arrhythmias comprise this series, 100 (82%) with an RVOT origin, and 22 (18%) with an LVOT origin. The index arrhythmia was similar: sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT)  (RVOT = 28%, LVOT = 36%)  , nonsustained VT  (RVOT=40%, LVOT=23%)  , and premature ventricular complexes  (RVOT = 32%, LVOT = 41%) (P = 0.32)  . Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and microvolt T-wave alternans results (normal/indeterminate) were also comparable. In addition, 41% with RVOT foci and 50% with LVOT foci were inducible for sustained VT (P = 0.48), and induction of VT was catecholamine dependent in a majority of patients in both groups (66% and 73%; RVOT and LVOT, respectively; P = 1.0). VT was sensitive to adenosine (88% and 78% in the RVOT and LVOT groups, respectively, P = 0.59) as well as blockade of the slow-inward calcium current (RVOT=70%, LVOT=80%; P = 1.00) in both groups.
Conclusions: Electrophysiologic and pharmacologic properties, including sensitivity to adenosine, are similar for RVOT and LVOT arrhythmias. Despite disparate sites of origin, these data suggest a common arrhythmogenic mechanism, consistent with cyclic AMP-mediated triggered activity. Based on these similarities, these arrhythmias should be considered as a single entity, and classified together as "outflow tract arrhythmias."     

Identification of unusual reentry circuit sites of nonischemic ventricular outflow tract tachycardia

Identification of Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia. Background: Reentrant ventricular outflow tract (OT) tachycardia is rare in patients with nonischemic heart disease. The mechanism of ventricular tachycardia (VT) arising from the region of the aortic sinus of Valsalva (ASOV) is usually focal, rather than reentrant. Consequently, less is known about reentrant circuits in the OT and the aortic sinuses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate existence of reentry circuits in these areas using entrainment mapping techniques. Methods: We performed electrophysiological study in 51 consecutive patients with idiopathic or nonischemic symptomatic VT arising from the OT. Six of these patients were found to have VT of reentrant mechanism with 8 VT morphologies. Entrainment mapping, electroanatomical mapping (in 2 patients), and radiofrequency catheter ablation were performed. Results: Pacing entrained the VT at 93 sites, 52 of which were determined to be in the reentry circuit based on matching of the postpacing interval and VT cycle length. Of the reentry circuit sites, 6 were in the aortic sinus, 43 were below the aortic valve, and 3 were in the right OT below the pulmonary valve. Classification of reentry circuit sites identified 7 as exit, 1 as central‐proximal, 19 as inner loop, and 25 as outer loop sites. Catheter ablation terminated VT at 4 of the 6 aortic sinus sites and 4 of the 46 OT sites (P = 0.0006). Conclusions: We definitively demonstrated involvement of the ASOV in OT reentrant tachycardia using entrainment mapping. It may be useful for successful VT ablation to identify reentry circuit localization. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 179‐187, February 2012)     

Electrocardiographic features of failed and recurrent right ventricular outflow tract catheter ablation of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias

1 Introduction

Various ECG algorithms have been proposed to identify the origin of idiopathic outflow tract (OT)‐ventricular arrhythmia (VA). However, electrocardiographic features of failed and recurrent right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) ablation of idiopathic OT‐VAs have not been clearly elucidated.

2 Methods and results

A total of 264 consecutive patients (mean age: 44.0 ± 13.0 years, 96 male) undergoing RVOT ablation for OT‐VAs with a transition ≥V₃, including 241 patients (91.6%) with initially successful procedures and 23 patients (8.4%) with failed ablation. Detailed clinical characteristics and ECG features were analyzed and compared between the two groups. VAs with failed RVOT ablation had larger peak deflection index (PDI), longer V₂ R wave duration (V₂Rd), smaller V₂ S wave amplitude, higher R/S ratio in V₂, higher V₃ R wave amplitude, and larger V₂ transition ratio than those with successful ablation. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PDI, V₂Rd, V₂ transition ratio, and pacemapping score acquired during mapping independently predicted failed ablation (P  =  0.01, P  =  0.01, P  =  0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively). In 31 recurrent cases (12.8%) after initially successful ablation, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that only the earliest activation time acquired during mapping predicted the recurrences after successful ablation (P  =  0.001). The recurrent cases displayed different ECG features comparing with those with failed ablation.

3 Conclusion

The electrocardiographic features of failed RVOT ablation of idiopathic OT‐VAs with a transition ≥V₃ were characterized by PDI, V₂Rd, V₂ transition ratio, and pacemapping score acquired during mapping, unlike the recurrent RVOT ablation.     

Electrocardiographic determinants of the polymorphic QRS morphology in idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract tachycardia

Coupling Intervals and Polymorphic QRS Morphologies . Introduction: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) arising from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) can trigger polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with no structural heart disease. We aimed to clarify the ECG determinants of the polymorphic QRS morphology in idiopathic RVOT PVT/VF. Methods and Results: The ECG parameters were compared between 18 patients with idiopathic PVT/VF (PVT‐group) and 21 with monomorphic VT arising from the RVOT (MVT‐group). The coupling interval (CI) of the first VT beat was comparable between the 2 groups. However, the prematurity index (PI) of the first VT beat was smaller in the PVT‐group than in the MVT‐group (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the QT index, defined as the ratio of the CI to the QT interval of the preceding sinus complex, was also smaller for the PVT/VF in the PVT‐group than that for the VT in the MVT‐group (P < 0.01). In the PVT‐group, the CI of the first VT beat was comparable between that of VT and isolated PVCs, but the PI of the first VT beat was shorter for VT than isolated PVCs (P < 0.05). The PI was the only independent determinant of the polymorphic QRS morphology (odd ratio = 2.198; 95% confidence interval = 1.321–3.659; P = 0.002). Conclusion: The smaller PIs of the first VT beat may result in a polymorphic QRS morphology. (Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23, pp. 521‐526, May 2012)     

采用心内非接触式标测的右心室流出道室性心动过速的射频消融

目的 右心室流出道(right ventricular outflow tract,RVOT)的解剖结构使得对该部位的室性心动过速(ventricular tachyeardia,VT,室速)标测定位的难度较大,远期成功率也较低,为此,采用心内非接触式标测指导导管消融。方法 20例患者(男性12例,女性8例),年龄14～59(35.1±12.3)岁。其中6例有晕厥或黑矇史,7例既往曾接受射频消融未获成功。全部患者均在RVOT内放置EnSite3000标测导管,在窦性心律下进行疤痕标测和心动过速时进行最早激动标测,并根据标测结果使用EnSite 3000导管的导航功能指导消融定位。消融前并进行起搏标测。结果 20例患者共诱发出22种RVOT室速,其中3例还伴其它起源的室性早搏(室早)。疤痕标测提示,13例患者有电学意义上的疤痕区域,且有11例室速起源于该疤痕区域。25个室速或室早起源点中1例起源于近肺动脉瓣口部,10个位于间隔侧,其余均偏游离壁,其中7个偏RVOT后壁中、下部,4个偏前壁中、下部,3个位于游离壁侧;病变基质的直径为6～42 mm,平均(16.8±9.2)mm。非接触式标测所确定的最早激动处电位平均领先体表20～62(41.0±13.8)ms;与自发的室性心动过速相比,起搏标测下14例的12个导联QRS形态完全一致,11/12个导联一致的为10例,1例有10/12导联一致。全部室速和室早均消融成功。在标测确定的     

特发性左心室流出道心外膜侧室性心动过速

目的报道9例经电生理检查证实的特发性左心室流出道心外膜侧室性心动过速(室速)的体表心电图及电生理检查特点.方法男性5例,女性4例,年龄15～58岁,6例为运动诱发的持续性室速,3例为运动诱发的非持续性室速.结果室速时,9例体表心电图QRS波全部呈现右束支阻滞图形(8例胸前导联V1-V6呈现高R波),Ⅱ、Ⅲ、aVF导联为高R波,Ⅰ、aVL导联为QS波.电生理检查,右心室和左心室心内膜标测未发现最早心室激动点,在较早心室心内膜激动处的心内电图多呈现起始部低幅电位,提示远场电位.心室内起搏标测未发现与室速体表心电图12导联QRS波形态相同的起搏点.8例通过心脏静脉系统标测发现最早的心室激动点[体表心电图最早QRS波前15～50ms,平均(32±12)ms]和完全或近乎完全的起搏标测位于心大静脉的远端1例、心前间隔静脉的近端7例.1例患者在左心室流出道消融成功,1例患者在心大静脉远端血管内消融成功.其他患者在右心室和/或左心室内消融失败.结论心脏静脉标测可以鉴别出特发性左心室流出道心外膜侧室速.     

体表心电图特征对特发性右心室流出道室性心动过速和室性早搏起源点的定位价值

目的 起源于右心室流出道(RVOT)不同位点的室性心动过速(VT)具有相应的心电图表现,本研究旨在摸索一种相对简单的根据体表心电图进行定位的方法 .方法 将RVOT分为游离壁和间隔而两大区,其中间隔面又分为9个区域.共320例RVOT-VT患者中,对213例既往消融成功患者的靶点与体表12导联心电图中QRS波形态之间的关系进行分析,并在消融前前瞻性地对另外107例患者的消融靶点进行预测,以检验其定位价值.结果 I导联对RVOT起源的VT有特殊的定位价值.在间隔面前部起源时,I导联以负向波为主,多为QS、Qr及rS型,随着起源点从前向后、从上向下,R波逐渐升高,其中起源于间隔侧中带(2、5、8区)时,以"M"型居多,在后壁时则表现为R波且有切迹.游离壁起源者的QRS时限明显延长,I和aVL导联的R波较间隔起源者高,而下壁导联的R波均较间隔的低(P<0.05).在前瞻性分析中,这些参数的敏感度、特异度、阳性和阴性预测值均较高.结论 RV-OT不同部位起源的VT有相应的心电图特征,其中I导联形态尤其具有定位价值,为RVOT心律失常起源提供了简便的定位标准.     

Spatial resolution of pace mapping of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia/ectopy originating in the right ventricular outflow tract

BACKGROUND: Pace mapping has been used to identify the site of origin of focal ventricular arrhythmias. The spatial resolution of pace mapping has not been adequately quantified using currently available three-dimensional mapping systems. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the spatial resolution of pace mapping in patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia or premature ventricular contractions originating in the right ventricular outflow tract. METHODS: In 16 patients with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia/ectopy from the right ventricular outflow tract, comparisons and classifications of pace maps were performed by two observers (good pace map: match >10/12 leads; inadequate pace map: match < or =10/12 leads) and a customized MATLAB 6.0 program (assessing correlation coefficient and normalized root mean square of the difference (nRMSd) between test and template signals). With an electroanatomic mapping system, the correlation coefficient of each pace map was correlated with the distance between the pacing site and the effective ablation site. The endocardial area within the 10-ms activation isochrone was measured. RESULTS: The ablation procedure was effective in all patients. Sites with good pace maps had a higher correlation coefficient and lower nRMSd than sites with inadequate pace maps (correlation coefficient: 0.96 +/- 0.03 vs 0.76 +/- 0.18, P <.0001; nRMSd: 0.41 +/- 0.16 vs 0.89 +/- 0.39, P <.0001). Using receiver operating characteristic curves, appropriate cutoff values were >0.94 for correlation coefficient (sensitivity 81%, specificity 89%) and < or =0.54 for nRMSd (sensitivity 76%, specificity 80%). Good pace maps were located a mean of 7.3 +/- 5.0 mm from the effective ablation site and had a mean activation time of -24 +/- 7 ms. However, in 3 (18%) of 16 patients, the best pace map was inadequate at the effective ablation site, with an endocardial activation time at these sites of -25 +/- 12 ms. Pace maps with correlation coefficient > or =0.94 were confined to an area of 1.8 +/- 0.6 cm2. The 10-ms isochrone measured 1.2 +/- 0.7 cm2. CONCLUSION: The spatial resolution of a good pace map for targeting ventricular tachycardia/ectopy is 1.8 cm2 in the right ventricular outflow tract and therefore is inferior to the spatial resolution of activation mapping as assessed by isochronal activation. In approximately 20% of patients, pace mapping is unreliable in identifying the site of origin, possibly due a deeper site of origin and preferential conduction via fibers connecting the focus to the endocardial surface.     

How to diagnose,locate, and ablate coronary cusp ventricular tachycardia

INTRODUCTION: Although radiofrequency energy usually is applied to the most favorable endocardial site in patients with outflow tract ventricular tachycardia, there are still some patients in whom the tachycardia can be ablated only from an epicardial site. We established the characteristics and technique of catheter ablation from both the left and right coronary cusps to cure left ventricular outflow tract ventricular tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 15 patients in whom VT was thought to originate from the coronary cusp by both activation and pace mapping after precise mapping of the right ventricle, left ventricle, pulmonary artery, coronary cusps, and anterior interventricular vein. Twelve-lead ECG analysis revealed an S wave on lead I, tall R wave on leads II, III, and aVF, and no S wave on either lead V5 or V6. Precordial R wave transition occurred on leads V1 and V2. The earliest ventricular electrogram at a successful ablation site was recorded 35+/-12 msec before QRS onset and 19+/-15 msec earlier than the earliest ventricular electrogram recorded from the anterior interventricular vein. Almost identical pace mappings were obtained from the coronary cusp. Catheter tip temperature was maintained at 55 degrees C during energy delivery, and the distance from the tip to the ostium of each left and right coronary artery was > 1.0 cm by coronary angiography. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular outflow tract VT that could not be ablated from an endocardial site could be safely eliminated by radiofrequency application to the left and right coronary cusps.     

Mapping for ventricular tachycardia

Mapping strategies for ventricular tachycardia (VT) have evolved significantly in the past 2 decades. This review discusses mapping techniques that can help in successful VT ablation. The electrocardiogram (ECG) remains a vital component of VT mapping and can help to identify the chamber of origin of VT. The ECG morphology of VT, however, is influenced by orientation of heart and location of the scar. Activation mapping during VT is an important technique that can help in further localization. Care has to be exercised to ensure that small signals are not ignored and far-field signals are recognized. Pace-mapping to mimic the VT is another way to map exit site for scar based reentrant VT or the site of origin of triggered and automatic VT in the absence of structural heart disease. For the latter group, this technique is widely used in determining the site of ablation. It is important to ensure a complete ECG match (12 out of 12 leads) of the pace-map to the clinical arrhythmia in these patients. In patients with structural heart disease, entrainment mapping remains the gold standard for defining the protected isthmus and other components of the VT circuit. Using this technique, successful ablation of reentrant VT can be achieved in 60–90% of patients. In order to perform entrainment mapping, the VT has to be hemodynamically tolerated; this is not the case in 25% of pts with scar based reentrant VT. The development of 3-dimensional mapping systems allows for more anatomically based linear ablation in patients with poorly tolerated uniform VT. Despite these advances, there are still about 10–20% VTs that cannot be ablated successfully with the above described techniques, especially in patients with structural heart disease. Other recent advances such as percutaneous closed chest epicardial mapping technique and cooled tip ablation catheter technology have the potential to enhance mapping and successful ablation of VT.