[Relevant anatomy of epicardial space for the electrophysiologists]. / Relevante Anatomie des epikardialen Raums für Elektrophysiologen.

ABSTRACT

The arrhythmogenic substrate in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic dysplasia, postmyocarditis nonischemic dilative cardiomyopathy as well as after extensive posterior or anterior wall myocardial infarction is predominantly located epicardially. This can necessitate epicardial access for an effective, substrate-based catheter ablation of the ventricular tachycardia (VT). Anterior percutaneous epicardial puncture represents the standard approach for epicardial VT ablation. The most important anatomical particularities that must be taken into account when performing an epicardial puncture or epicardial VT ablation are epicardial coronary arteries, left phrenic nerve and epicardial fat. The typical anatomic characteristics of the epicardial structures and resulting considerations for epicardial access are discussed here in detail.