RIGHT-VENTRICULAR DISARTICULATION PROCEDURES - THE ROLE OF LATE POTENTIALS IN THE GENESIS OF POSTOPERATIVE VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular disease may be associated with life-t hreatening and drug refractory ventricular arrhythmias. Right ventricu lar disarticulation procedures are effective antiarrhythmic surgical a pproaches in selected patients. This study examined the role of late p otentials in the postoperative development of new ventricular arrhythm ias, and showed that right ventricular isolation is effective, probabl y because it destroys the tissue giving rise to late potentials. Total disarticulation is associated with fewer postoperative arrhythmias th an partial isolation procedures. Total disarticulation may be the surg ical approach of choice in such patients.