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[Prolonged course in patients with symptomatic ventricular tachycardia]
H Zvizdic1, H Gloor, W Steinbrunn
1Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsspital, Zürich.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|May 14, 1988
Summary
Symptomatic ventricular tachycardias can be effectively managed with drug therapy or surgery, improving quality of life. While both treatments show success, surgery offers a slightly higher tachycardia-free rate.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Context:
- Retrospective analysis of 77 patients with symptomatic ventricular tachycardias.
- Patients underwent initial electrophysiological examination.
- Treatment included drug therapy (56/77) or surgery (19/77), including defibrillator implantation.
Purpose:
- To analyze the long-term outcomes of drug therapy versus surgical intervention for symptomatic ventricular tachycardias.
- To evaluate the efficacy and mortality rates associated with different treatment modalities.
Summary:
- After a median 30-month follow-up, 60% of drug-treated and 77% of surgically treated patients were tachycardia-free.
- Mortality rates were 29% for drug therapy and 32% for surgery.
- Overall mortality was 9.6 times higher than controls, with higher rates in younger patients and the first year post-treatment.
Impact:
- Ventricular arrhythmias can be effectively controlled, enhancing patient quality of life.
- Left ventricular ejection fraction is a significant prognostic indicator for survival.
- Findings support drug therapy or surgery as viable options for managing ventricular tachycardias.