The results of radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients without structural heart disease are reported. Particular attention was focused on the relation between efficacy and the site of origin of the VT. Eighteen consecutive patients (5 women and 13 men; mean age 41 +/- 13 years) with idiopathic VT underwent catheter ablation using radiofrequency energy. Sites...

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia, with an increasing prevalence at higher age. Besides symptoms that affect quality of life, there is a significant risk of thromboembolic complications, heart failure and death. Different therapeutic options are proposed. Results of pharmacological treatment are often disappointing. Adverse side effects of antiarrhythmic medication are considera...

OBJECTIVE To search for a reliable anatomical landmark within Koch's triangle to predict the risk of atrioventricular (AV) block during radiofrequency slow pathway catheter ablation of AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS To test the hypothesis that the distal end of the AV nodal artery represents the anatomical location of the AV node, and thus could be a useful land...

Phrenic nerve palsy has been recognized as a complication of catheter ablation with a prevalence of 0.11-0.48% after atrial fibrillation ablation, independent of the type of ablation catheter or energy source, likely due to the anatomical relationship of the nerves. This report describes a case of new onset of shortness of breath (SOB) due to left diaphragm paralysis following transcatheter rad...

Ablation is the destruction of cardiac tissue to cure rhythm disturbances and of liver tissue to cure cancer. This work presents methods, numerical results, experimental results, and applications of finite element (FE) analysis for the study of radiofrequency (RF) cardiac and hepatic ablation. I outline a process for FE modeling implementations of temperature-controlled and power-controlled RF ...

This review enlightens the application issues of the novel CARTO electroanatomic mapping system (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) in both research and clinical electrophysiology. It is a very useful tool in catheter ablation procedures in patients with sustained atrial tachycardias, macroreentrant atrial arrhythmias after surgical correction of congenital heart disease, and ventricular t...

Radiofrequency catheter ablation procedures are considered a reasonable option for patients with symptomatic, drug refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablation procedures have been reported to effectively restore sinus rhythm and provide long-term relief of symptoms. Both electrical and structural remodeling occurs with AF. A reversal of the electrical remodeling develops within 1 week after r...

BACKGROUND Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) can originate from the left ventricular papillary muscles (PAMs). This study investigated the electrophysiological characteristics of these VAs and their relevance for the results of catheter ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS We studied 19 patients who underwent successful catheter ablation of idiopathic VAs originating from the anterior (n=7) a...

[1] Phan K, Yan TD. Minimally invasive Cox-maze procedure, beating-heart epicardial ablation, hybrid procedure and catheter ablation: a call for comparative evidence. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2015;48:515. [2] Je HG, Shuman DJ, Ad N. A systematic review of minimally invasive surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation: a comparison of the Cox-Maze procedure, beating-heart epicardial ablation, and ...

Letter by Yamada and Kay Regarding Article, “Ventricular Arrhythmias Arising From the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Below the Aortic Sinus Cusps: Mapping and Catheter Ablation via Transseptal Approach and Electrocardiographic Characteristics” We read with great interest the most recent publication by Dr Ouyang et al on the transseptal approach in catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (V...