[Surgical treatment of non-ischemic ventricular tachycardia]

The authors reviewed the results of 42 operations for non-ischemic ventricular tachycardias, tachycardia being arrested by laser ablation in 2 cases. Right and left ventricular tachycardias were seen in 26 and 14 patients, respectively. For diagnosis, preoperative electrophysiologic study, intraoperative epicardial mapping, and "delayed" potentials were used. In 38 of 40 patients who had undergone a direct operation, a positive result was obtained; in 31 patients, a complete disappearance without applying antiarrhythmics was observed. Four patients received drug therapy which proved to be ineffective before surgery. Two patients died after surgery due to recurrent tachycardia. Out of 38 survivals, 3 died of heart failure that was not caused by recurrent tachycardia.