Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for long QT syndrome

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Thoracic Surgery
• Clinical Electrophysiology

Background:

• Patient presented with intractable ventricular arrhythmias due to familial long-QT syndrome.
• Previous treatment included an Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (AICD) and sympathetic blockers.
• Ongoing tachyarrhythmias and AICD shocks caused significant patient distress.

Observation:

• The patient underwent a left transthoracic endoscopic cardiac sympathectomy.
• The procedure was technically successful with a good postoperative recovery.

Findings:

• The patient remained asymptomatic at four months post-procedure.
• Endoscopic cardiac sympathectomy demonstrated efficacy in managing refractory ventricular arrhythmias.

Implications:

• Thoracoscopic sympathetic cardiac denervation offers a less invasive alternative to open sympathectomy.
• This case highlights the potential of minimally invasive techniques for managing complex arrhythmias.
• Further research into thoracoscopic sympathetic denervation for long-QT syndrome is warranted.