Bilateral sympathectomy for treatment of refractory ventricular tachycardia. Issue 1 (20th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kopecky, Kathleen; Afzal, Aasim; Felius, Joost; Hall, Shelley A.; Mendez, Jose C.; Assar, Manish; Mason, David P.; Bindra, Amarinder S.
• Is Part Of: Pacing and clinical electrophysiology. Volume 41:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 93
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2017-09-20
• Subjects: ablation -- sympathectomy -- ventricular arrhythmia; Cardiac pacing -- Periodicals; Electrophysiology -- Periodicals; 617.4120645
• DOI: 10.1111/pace.13164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-8389

Abstract

Abstract: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) commonly occurs in patients with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy and requires antiarrhythmic drugs, ablation, or advanced circulatory support. However, life‐threatening VT may be refractory to these therapies, and may cause frequent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) discharges. Left cardiac sympathetic denervation reduces the occurrence of these fatal arrhythmias by inhibiting the sympathetic outflow to the cardiac tissue. We present a 69‐year‐old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy, life‐threatening VT, and hemodynamic instability with numerous ICD discharges, who remained refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy and ablation attempts. He was effectively treated with bilateral cardiac sympathectomy. Six months later, he remained free of VT with no ICD discharges.