Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Mar 1998
Clinical TrialEndocardial and epicardial ablation guided by nonsurgical transthoracic epicardial mapping to treat recurrent ventricular tachycardia.
An epicardial site of origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) may explain unsuccessful endocardial radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation. A new technique to map the epicardial surface of the heart through pericardial puncture was presented recently and opened the possibility of using epicardial mapping to guide endocardial ablation or epicardial catheter ablation. We report the efficacy and safety of these two approaches to treat 10 consecutive patients with VT and Chagas' disease. ⋯ Epicardial mapping does not enhance the effectiveness of endocardial pulses of RF. Epicardial applications of RF energy can safely and effectively treat patients with VT and Chagas' disease.