Endocardial and Epicardial Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

Myocarditis is simply defined as an inflammatory condition mainly located in the heart muscle, although considerable uncertainties still persist as to its etiologic, pathological, and clinical subclassifications. In addition to the possibility of an aspecific flulike prodrome, possible presentations include different degrees of heart failure (ranging from cardiogenic shock to subtly progressive chronic heart failure), chest pain, conduction anomalies, bradyarrhythmias, and tachyarrhythmias (including sudden cardiac death). The clinical course is also variable, as a spontaneous recovery may occur after the acute phase in up to 50% of patients, whereas chronic myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy sustained by viral persistence and/or autoimmune selfperpetration represent a common evolution of the disease.