Ventricular Arrhythmias

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy M. John ◽  
William G Stevenson

Ventricular arrhythmias are common in all forms of heart disease and are an important cause of cardiac arrest and sudden death. Many ventricular arrhythmias are benign but may serve as a marker for underlying disease or its severity. Others are life threatening. The significance of an arrhythmia is determined by the specific characteristics of the arrhythmia and the associated heart disease, and these features guide evaluation and therapy. This review discusses various mechanisms and types of ventricular arrhythmias and management based on clinical presentation (including patients with symptomatic arrhythmia and increased risk of sudden death without arrhythmia symptoms). Genetic arrhythmia syndromes, such as abnormalities of repolarization and the QT interval, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), and inherited cardiomyopathies, are discussed in depth. Under the rubric of management of ventricular arrhythmias, drug therapy for ventricular arrhythmias, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and catheter ablation for VT are also covered. Tables chart out guideline recommendations for ICD therapy, drugs for the management of ventricular arrhythmias, and indications and contraindications for catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. Electrocardiograms are provided, as well as management algorithms for ventricular arrhythmias based on patient presentation, and an algorithm for identifying patients with systolic heart failure and left ventricular ejection less than or equal to 35% who are candidates for consideration of an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. This review contains 5 figures, 8 tables, and 61 references. Keywords: Ventricular arrhythmias, implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), Ventricular tachycardia (VT), Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC), Myocardial Infarction (MI), Brugada syndrome, Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), electrocardiographic (ECG)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy M. John ◽  
William G Stevenson

Ventricular arrhythmias are common in all forms of heart disease and are an important cause of cardiac arrest and sudden death. Many ventricular arrhythmias are benign but may serve as a marker for underlying disease or its severity. Others are life threatening. The significance of an arrhythmia is determined by the specific characteristics of the arrhythmia and the associated heart disease, and these features guide evaluation and therapy. This review discusses various mechanisms and types of ventricular arrhythmias and management based on clinical presentation (including patients with symptomatic arrhythmia and increased risk of sudden death without arrhythmia symptoms). Genetic arrhythmia syndromes, such as abnormalities of repolarization and the QT interval, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), and inherited cardiomyopathies, are discussed in depth. Under the rubric of management of ventricular arrhythmias, drug therapy for ventricular arrhythmias, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and catheter ablation for VT are also covered. Tables chart out guideline recommendations for ICD therapy, drugs for the management of ventricular arrhythmias, and indications and contraindications for catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. Electrocardiograms are provided, as well as management algorithms for ventricular arrhythmias based on patient presentation, and an algorithm for identifying patients with systolic heart failure and left ventricular ejection less than or equal to 35% who are candidates for consideration of an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. This review contains 5 figures, 8 tables, and 61 references. Keywords: Ventricular arrhythmias, implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), Ventricular tachycardia (VT), Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC), Myocardial Infarction (MI), Brugada syndrome, Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), electrocardiographic (ECG)


2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy M. John ◽  
William G Stevenson

Ventricular arrhythmias are common in all forms of heart disease and are an important cause of cardiac arrest and sudden death. Many ventricular arrhythmias are benign but may serve as a marker for underlying disease or its severity. Others are life threatening. The significance of an arrhythmia is determined by the specific characteristics of the arrhythmia and the associated heart disease, and these features guide evaluation and therapy. This review discusses various mechanisms and types of ventricular arrhythmias and management based on clinical presentation (including patients with symptomatic arrhythmia and increased risk of sudden death without arrhythmia symptoms). Genetic arrhythmia syndromes, such as abnormalities of repolarization and the QT interval, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), and inherited cardiomyopathies, are discussed in depth. Under the rubric of management of ventricular arrhythmias, drug therapy for ventricular arrhythmias, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and catheter ablation for VT are also covered. Tables chart out guideline recommendations for ICD therapy, drugs for the management of ventricular arrhythmias, and indications and contraindications for catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. Electrocardiograms are provided, as well as management algorithms for ventricular arrhythmias based on patient presentation, and an algorithm for identifying patients with systolic heart failure and left ventricular ejection less than or equal to 35% who are candidates for consideration of an ICD for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. This review contains 5 highly rendered figures, 3 tables, and 60 references.


1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur Garson

Sudden death occurs in patients after repair of congenital heart disease. In those with tetralogy of Fallot, or a similar lesion, ventricular tachycardia has been hypothesized as the major arrhythmic mechanism for sudden death. It would be desirable to identify individuals at risk for sudden death, to determine which arrhythmia would be likely to cause sudden death, and to treat those individuals with an appropriate antiarrhythmic to prevent sudden death. For the last 10 years, physicians have been treating patients with antiarrhythmic drugs, based on a number of criteria, the most common of which is the presence of premature ventricular contractions.1,2 The practice has recently been called into question by the CAST trial. It is the purpose of this paper to review the evidence that repair causes ventricular arrhythmias, that ventricular arrhythmias cause sudden death, and that ventricular arrhythmias should be treated prophylactically.


ESC CardioMed ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 2288-2293
Author(s):  
Victor Bazan ◽  
Enrique Rodriguez-Font ◽  
Francis E. Marchlinski

Patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and without underlying structural heart disease or baseline electrical disorders (‘idiopathic’ VAs) usually have a benign clinical course. Only rarely do these benign arrhythmias trigger polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. Due to their focal origin and to the absence of underlying myocardial scar, the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) very precisely establishes the right or left ventricular site of origin of the arrhythmia and can help regionalize the origin of ventricular tachycardia for ablation. A 12-lead ECG obtained during the baseline rhythm and 24 h ECG Holter monitoring are indicated in order to identify structural or electrical disorders leading to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation and to determine the VA burden. The most frequent origin of idiopathic VAs is the right ventricular outflow tract. Other origins include the left ventricular outflow tract, the left ventricular fascicles (fascicular ventricular tachycardias), the left and right ventricular papillary muscles, the crux cordis, the mitral and tricuspid annuli, and the right ventricular moderator band. Recognizing the typical anatomic sites of origin combined with a 12-lead ECG assessment facilitates localization. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy (including use of beta blockers) or catheter ablation may be indicated to suppress or eliminate idiopathic VAs, particularly if there are severe arrhythmia-related symptoms or if the arrhythmia burden is high and ‘tachycardia’-induced cardiomyopathy is suspected. Catheter ablation is frequently preferred to prevent lifelong drug therapy in young patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 99-102
Author(s):  
Mohamed Dardari ◽  
Alexandrina Nastasa ◽  
Corneliu Iorgulescu ◽  
Stefan Bogdan ◽  
Vlad Bataila ◽  
...  

Objective. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is an effective treatment option for cardiac arrhythmias including complex and ventricular arrhythmias. Remote magnetic catheter navigation (RMN) has been developed as a novel way of approach aiming to improve outcome and reduce complication rate, and reduce radiation exposure for both operator and patient. Our aim was to compare success and complication rate in patients with or without severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods. We retrospectively analyzed all the patients (n = 98) which have undergone RMN in our center between 2015-2021. No selection criteria for RMN procedure have been applied. All clinical and paraclinical, as well as procedural data were collected. Patients were divided into two groups, with or without severely reduced LVEF ≤ 35%. CARTO system was used for 3D electroanatomic mapping. RMN was done using Niobe ES system and an open-irrigated magnetic ablation catheter. Success rate was defi ned by complete elimination of clinical arrhythmia. Non-inducibility following ablation was assessed in all patients presenting with any type of ventricular arrhythmia other than premature ventricular contractions. Testing for inducibility was done by ventricular programmed pacing with up to four extra-stimuli. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. P-value < 0.05 was considered signifi cant. Results. Successful ablation with complete elimination of the clinical arrhythmia was achieved in 92.3% of the patients with severely reduced LVEF and in 88.1% of patients with LVEF > 35% (p = 0.73). Overall minor complication rate was 2.04% with spontaneous resolution. No major complications were reported. Non-inducibility was achieved in 56.4% of the patients with LVEF ≤ 35% and in 79.2% of the patients with LVEF >35% (p = 0.023). Conclusion. Radiofrequency catheter ablation using RMN is effective and safe regardless of the presence or not of a severely reduced LVEF.


EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Nascimento Matos ◽  
D Cavaco ◽  
P Carmo ◽  
MS Carvalho ◽  
G Rodrigues ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. INTRODUCTION Catheter ablation outcomes for drug-resistant ventricular tachycardia (VT) in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) are suboptimal when compared to ischemic cardiomyopathy. We aimed to analyse the long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous catheter ablation in this subset of patients. METHODS Single-center observational retrospective registry including consecutive NICM patients who underwent catheter ablation for drug-resistant VT during a 10-year period. The efficacy endpoint was defined as VT-free survival after catheter ablation, while safety outcomes were defined by 30-days mortality and procedure-related complications. Independent predictors of VT recurrence were assessed by Cox regression. RESULTS In a population of 68 patients, most were male (85%), mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 34 ± 12%, and mean age was 58 ± 15 years. All patients had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Twenty-six (38%) patients underwent epicardial ablation (table 1). Over a median follow-up of 3 years (IQR 1-8), 41% (n = 31) patients had VT recurrence and 28% died (n = 19). Multivariate survival analysis identified LVEF (HR= 0.98; 95%CI 0.92-0.99, p = 0.046) and VT storm at presentation (HR = 2.38; 95%CI 1.04-5.46, p = 0.041) as independent predictors of VT recurrence. The yearly rates of VT recurrence and overall mortality were 21%/year and 10%/year, respectively. No patients died at 30-days post-procedure, and mean hospital length of stay was 5 ± 6 days. The complication rate was 7% (n = 5, table 1), mostly in patients undergoing epicardial ablation (4 vs 1 in endocardial ablation, P = 0.046). CONCLUSION LVEF and VT storm at presentation were independent predictors of VT recurrence in NICM patients after catheter ablation. While clinical outcomes can be improved with further technical and scientific development, a tailored endocardial/epicardial approach was safe, with low overall number of complications and no 30-days mortality. Abstract Figure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Demarchi ◽  
Stefano Cornara ◽  
Antonio Sanzo ◽  
Simone Savastano ◽  
Barbara Petracci ◽  
...  

Background When implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) battery is depleted most patients undergo generator replacement (GR) even in the absence of persistent ICD indication. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and the overall prognosis of patients with and without persistent ICD indication undergoing GR. Predictors of 1‐year mortality were also analyzed. Methods and Results Patients with structural heart disease implanted with primary prevention ICD undergoing GR were included. Patients were stratified based on the presence/absence of persistent ICD indication (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% at the time of GR and/or history of appropriate ICD therapies during the first generator's life). The study included 371 patients (82% male, 40% with ischemic heart disease). One third of patients (n=121) no longer met ICD indication at the time of GR. During a median follow‐up of 34 months after GR patients without persistent ICD indication showed a significantly lower incidence of appropriate ICD shocks (1.9% versus 16.2%, P <0.001) and ICD therapies. 1‐year mortality was also significantly lower in patients without persistent ICD indication (1% versus 8.3%, P =0.009). At multivariable analysis permanent atrial fibrillation, chronic advanced renal impairment, age >80, and persistent ICD indication were found to be significant predictors of 1‐year mortality. Conclusions Patients without persistent ICD indication at the time of GR show a low incidence of appropriate ICD therapies after GR. Persistent ICD indication, atrial fibrillation, advanced chronic renal disease, and age >80 are significant predictors of 1‐year mortality. Our findings enlighten the need of performing a comprehensive clinical reevaluation of ICD patients at the time of GR.


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