Ablation of ventricular arrhythmias
Mouhannad M Sadek1, Francis E Marchlinski1
1Electrophysiology Section, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 9 Founders Pavilion-Cardiology, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Insights
This review covers ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), including premature depolarizations (VPDs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT), in patients with and without heart disease. Catheter ablation offers a cure for many, but optimal strategies for scar-related VT require further study.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmia, and Conduction
Background:
- Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are common in patients with structural heart disease, presenting as ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs), monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), or polymorphic VT/ventricular fibrillation.
- Idiopathic VAs can also affect individuals with structurally normal hearts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the etiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies for various types of VAs.
- To discuss medical and invasive treatment options, including catheter ablation approaches.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of etiology, clinical presentation, and management of VAs.
- Discussion of medical therapies and invasive strategies, focusing on catheter ablation.
Main Results:
- Ablation of VPDs and idiopathic VT is curative for most patients.
- Ongoing research is needed to determine the optimal ablation strategy for scar-related VT.
Conclusions:
- Ventricular arrhythmias have diverse causes and presentations.
- Catheter ablation is a key treatment modality, with established efficacy for VPDs and idiopathic VT, but further research is essential for scar-related VT management.
Abstract:
Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) commonly occur in patients with structural heart disease and may present as ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs), monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), or polymorphic VT/ventricular fibrillation. Idiopathic VAs can also occur in patients with normal hearts. This review explores the etiology, clinical presentation, and management strategies for different types of VAs. Medical and invasive treatment strategies are discussed, and different approaches to catheter ablation are outlined. While ablation of VPDs and idiopathic VT provides a cure for the majority of patients, investigation is ongoing to define the optimal ablation strategy for patients with scar-related VT.
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