Cited 21 times since 2004 (1 per year) source: EuropePMC European journal of echocardiography : the journal of the Working Group on Echocardiography of the European Society of Cardiology, Volume 5, Issue 1, 1 1 2004, Pages 34-40 Radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia guided by intracardiac echocardiography. Jongbloed MR, Bax JJ, van der Burg AE, Van der Wall EE, Schalij MJ
Aims
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) frequently has an anatomical substrate. Identification of areas prone to arrhythmogenicity facilitates radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Furthermore, direct monitoring of complications potentially increases safety of RFCA. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of guiding RFCA of VT with intracardiac echocardiography (ICE), in order to improve outcome and procedural safety.
Methods and results
Eleven patients (age 59 +/- 15 years) with drug-refractory VT of various etiologies were studied. VT mapping and ablation were performed using standard techniques. ICE was performed with a multifrequency (5-10 MHz) phased-array transducer positioned in the right ventricle. Twenty different VTs were treated (CL 352 +/- 120 ms, 2.0 +/- 0.9 VT per patient). LV a- or dyskinesia was identified in all post-infarct patients. In patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, right ventricular aneurysms and dyskinesia could be identified. In all patients catheter position and tip-tissue contact could easily be monitored with ICE. Procedural success (non-inducibility of hemodynamically stable VT) was achieved in all patients. Complications did not occur.
Conclusion
ICE is feasible in guiding RFCA of VT of different etiologies. The use of ICE in adjunction with fluoroscopy and mapping procedures will facilitate treatment of VT and may contribute to the safety of the procedure.
