Surgical catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia using left thoracotomy in a patient with hindered access to the left ventricle

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2009 Apr;32(4):556-60. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2009.02322.x.

Abstract

We report the case of a patient presenting with incessant monomorphic ventricular tachycardia resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs, and in whom usual percutaneous vascular or pericardial access to the left ventricle was hindered by mechanical aortic and mitral prosthetic valves. Because an epicardial location was suspected by electrocardiogram features and because access to the target area through the coronary sinus was not possible, we decided to perform a surgically based radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Catheter mapping of the epicardial surface through surgical left lateral thoracotomy in the operating room confirmed the epicardial location of the arrhythmogenic substrate and allowed successful RF ablation of the clinically incessant tachycardia. Combined surgical and electrophysiological approach should therefore be performed when RF ablation is needed in case of unadvisable, difficult, or failed nonsurgical percutaneous access.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Catheter Ablation / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / surgery
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / surgery*
  • Thoracotomy / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome