Background: The feasibility and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation therapy in idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia has not been assessed in a large group of patients.
Methods and results: Twenty consecutive patients with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia and without structural heart disease underwent electrophysiological study, pharmacological interventions with administration of verapamil and adenosine, and radiofrequency ablation therapy. There were 17 men and 3 women with a mean age of 28 +/- 8 years. The QRS configuration during tachycardia was of right bundle branch block and superior axis in 13 patients, indeterminate axis in 6 patients, and right axis in 1 patient. The tachycardia was electrically inducible and responsive to verapamil but not to adenosine. Thirteen patients demonstrated entrainment. Activation and pace-mapping studies disclosed that the tachycardia originated from the inferior apical septum in 15 patients, the midseptum in 4 patients, and the anterior lateral wall of the left ventricle in 1 patient. Radiofrequency ablation was successful in 17 of the 20 patients (85%). The successful ablation sites were characterized by an endocardial activation time 30 milliseconds earlier than the onset of QRS during tachycardia and by a pace-mapping QRS similar to or closely resembling the tachycardia. All patients displayed sharp spikes preceding the local ventricular electrogram at the ablation site. However, these sharp spikes also were noted in 15 control patients and were not specific for this tachycardia; they persisted after ablation. There were no complications. A follow-up of 7 +/- 8 months in the 17 successfully ablated patients showed no symptomatic tachyarrhythmias without medications. Six patients underwent repeat electrophysiological study, and no induction of tachycardia was revealed.
Conclusions: Radiofrequency ablation therapy is effective and safe in patients with idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia. It should be considered as the primary therapeutic modality in these patients.