Ms. Wen et al., SUCCESSFUL RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF IDIOPATHIC LEFT-VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA AT A SITE AWAY FROM THE TACHYCARDIA EXIT, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 30(4), 1997, pp. 1024-1031
Objectives. This study sought to assess the possibility of ablating ve
rapamil-responsive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia at a site d
istant from the tachycardia exit and thus to define the tachycardia ci
rcuit. Background. The nature of the reentry circuit in idiopathic lef
t ventricular tachycardia is unclear. If the circuit is of considerabl
e size, then it should he possible to ablate the tachycardia at a site
distant from the exit site. Methods. Electrophysiologic studies and r
adiofrequency ablation were performed in 27 consecutive patients with
verapamil responsive idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia. In all 2
7 patients, the tachycardia exit site was defined as the site where th
e earliest Purkinje potential was recorded greater than or equal to 25
ms before the onset of the QRS complex during the tachycardia and whe
re the pace map QRS complex resembled that during the tachycardia. A p
otential ablation site other than the exit site was then sought around
the midseptum, proximal to the exit site. At such sites the tachycard
ia could be terminated transiently by pressure applied to the catheter
tip, without induction of ventricular ectopic beats. Results. The pot
ential ablation site, other than the tachycardia exit site, was identi
fied in seven male patients (mean [+/- SD] age 31 +/- 12 years, range
13 to 52). Application of the radiofrequency current at this site resu
lted in termination of the tachycardia within 1 to 5 s (mean 2.9 +/- 1
.6), and successful ablation of the tachycardia was achieved in all se
ven patients (success rate 100%, 95% exact confidence interval 0.5898
to 1). The mean distance between the ablation site and the tachycardia
exit site was 3.1 +/- 0.7 cm (range 2.0 to 4.0). A presystolic Purkin
je spike was recorded 14 +/- 5 ms (range 8 to 20) before the onset of
the QRS complex during the tachycardia. During the follow up period of
24 +/- 11 months (range 12 to 39), there was no recurrence of tachyca
rdia in these seven patients. Conclusions. Successful ablation of idio
pathic left ventricular tachycardia can be achieved at sites away from
the tachycardia exit site in some patients. This finding suggests tha
t the reentry circuit is likely to be of considerable size, encompassi
ng the middle, inferior and lower aspects of the left interventricular
septum. (C) 1997 by the American College of Cardiology.