Acute and chronic hemodynamic impact of total right ventricular disarticulation

Right ventricular disarticulation is a radical operation to control ventricular arrhythmias in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. This report describes the acute and chronic hemodynamic impact of the procedure based on our experience of five patients with life-threatening arrhythmias unresponsive to medical therapy who have undergone total disarticulation of the right ventricle. Although all patients suffered acute postoperative hemodynamic problems, all survived and returned to an excellent functional class. Right ventricular disarticulation should be considered in patients with drug refractory ventricular tachycardias due to arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia when the arrhythmia either poses a life threat or results in chronic morbidity.