Intraoperative ultrasonography in patients undergoing surgery for Crohn's disease. Prospective evaluation of an innovative approach to optimize staging and treatment planning.

Percutaneous ultrasonography (perc-US) and magnetic resonance enterography (e-MR) are the present standards for staging patients with Crohn's disease (CD). However, intraoperative data still have some discrepancies with preoperative ones. The contribution of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) has never been evaluated. Sixty-five consecutive patients scheduled for ileal/colonic resection for CD between 2010 and 2014 were prospectively enrolled. All patients had perc-US, e-MR and IOUS. Data from different imaging modalities were compared. The reference standard was the final pathology. Surgery was scheduled because of intestinal obstruction (n = 31 patients), inflammatory mass (n = 21), fistula (n = 10), or abdominal pain/sepsis (n = 3). Fourteen (21.5%) patients had a major discrepancy between preoperative and intraoperative data that required a modification of the surgical planning (five additional ileal lesions, three unknown ileo-sigmoid fistulas, and six not confirmed CD sites). IOUS correctly staged CD in all but one patients (missed ileo-colonic fistula). Pathology data differed from Perc-US data in 13 (20%) patients, from e-MR data in 14 (21.5%), and from IOUS data in one (1.5%). The sensitivity of Perc-US, e-MR and IOUS was: for the identification of CD sites 84.2%, 86.1%, and 100%; for the identification of stenoses 86.8%, 86.8%, and 100%; for the identification of fistulas 75.0%, 81.3%, and 93.8%, respectively. IOUS contributed to the surgical planning in 8 (12.3%) patients. IOUS is a safe, feasible and easy-to-perform procedure that optimizes staging of CD and, in some patients, helps to better define the treatment strategy. It could be helpful to face complex disease presentations on the basis of objective and reproducible data.

Improving results of surgery for fecal peritonitis due to perforated colorectal disease: A single center experience.

PURPOSE: fecal peritonitis due to colorectal perforation is a dramatic event characterized by high mortality. Our study aims at determining how results of sigmoid resection (eventually extended to upper rectum) for colorectal perforation with fecal peritonitis changed in recent years and which factors affected eventual changes. METHOD: Seventy-four patients were operated on at our institution (2005-2014) for colorectal perforation with fecal peritonitis and were divided into two numerically equal groups (operated on before (ERA1-group) and after (ERA2-group) May 2010). Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI) was calculated for each patient. Characteristics of two groups were compared. Predictors of postoperative outcomes were identified. RESULTS: Postoperative overall complications, major complications, and mortality occurred in 59%, 28%, and 18% of cases, respectively, and were less frequent in ERA2-group (51%, 16%, and 8%, respectively), compared to ERA1-group (68%, 41%, and 27%, respectively; p = .155, .02, and .032, respectively). Such results paralleled lower MPI values in ERA2-group, compared to ERA1-group (23(16-39) vs. 28(21-43), p = .006). Using receiver operating characteristic analysis, the best cut-off value for MPI for predicting postoperative complications and mortality was 28.5. MPI>28 was the only independent predictor of postoperative overall (p = .009, OR = 4.491) and major complications (p < .001, OR = 23.182) and was independently associated with a higher risk of mortality (p = .016, OR = 13.444), as well as duration of preoperative peritonitis longer than 24 h (p = .045, OR = 17.099). CONCLUSIONS: results of surgery for colorectal perforation with fecal peritonitis have improved over time, matching a concurrent decrease of MPI values and a better preoperative patient management. MPI value may help in selecting patients benefitting from surgical treatment.

External tube pancreatostomy reduces the risk of mortality associated with completion pancreatectomy for symptomatic fistulas complicating pancreaticoduodenectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the outcome of a pancreas-preserving technique consisting in a two-step procedure (external tube pancreatostomy (ETP) after resection of dehisced anastomosis followed by late anastomosis completion) with that of completion pancreatectomy (CP) for grade C fistulas complicating pancreaticoduodenectomies (PDs). BACKGROUND DATA: CP is the most commonly performed operation to treat a dehisced pancreato-jejunal anastomosis associated with deteriorating clinical status or hemorrhage. However, mortality of CP is high and long-term consequences are severe. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent PD between 1990 and 2010 were identified. Clinicopathological data, operative details, and outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 370 patients, 112 (30.2 %) developed a pancreatic fistula, which was severe (grade C) in 47 cases. Forty-two patients were treated surgically by CP (n = 23; median time following PD, 10 days), ETP (n = 9; median time following PD, 8 days) or other various procedures (n = 10). Indications for re-operation and operative time of CP and ETP (207.5' versus 170', respectively) were similar, while postoperative mortality was significantly higher after CP (43.5 % versus 0 %, p = 0.030). Moreover, the need for a second emergency re-operation was threefold higher after CP than after ETP (39.1 % versus 11.1 %). After a median of 88 days, seven patients completed the pancreato-jejunal anastomosis without major complications or mortality. After a median follow-up of 14 months, none of the ETP patients developed diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: External tube pancreatostomy significantly reduces the mortality associated with emergency CP. Thus, it should always be considered when deciding the treatment option in emergency surgery for severe pancreatic fistulas.

Long-term effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy in heart failure patients with unfavorable cardiac veins anatomy comparison of surgical versus hemodynamic procedure.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to compare clinical, echocardiographic, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with unfavorable anatomy of coronary sinus (CS) veins, randomized to transvenous versus surgical left ventricular (LV) lead implantation. BACKGROUND: CRT efficacy depends on proper positioning of the LV lead over the posterolateral wall. A detailed pre-operative knowledge of CS anatomy might be of pivotal importance to accomplish a proper LV lead placement over this area. METHODS: Study population included 40 patients (age 66 ± 4 years) with heart failure and indication to CRT, with unsuitable CS branches anatomy documented by pre-operative multislice computed cardiac tomography; 20 patients (Group 1) underwent surgical minithoracotomic LV lead implantation whereas 20 (Group 2) were implanted transvenously. New York Heart Association functional class, echocardiographic, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing data were assessed before and 1 year after CRT-system implant. RESULTS: In all Group 1 patients, the LV leads were placed over the middle-basal segments of the posterolateral wall of the LV. This was not possible in Group 2 patients. One year after CRT, in Group 1, a significant improvement of New York Heart Association functional class, LV ejection fraction (from 28.8 ± 9.2% to 33.9 ± 7.2%, p < 0.01), LV end-systolic volume (from 165 ± 53 ml to 134 ± 48 ml, p < 0.001), and peak Vo(2)/kg (from 10.4 ± 4.5 ml/kg/min to 13.1 ± 3.1 ml/kg/min, p < 0.02) was observed. However, no improvement was observed in Group 2: LV ejection fraction varied from 27.4 ± 4.8% to 27.4 ± 5.7% (p = 0.9), LV end-systolic volume from 175 ± 46 ml to 166 ± 44 ml (p = 0.15), and peak Vo(2)/kg from 11.2 ± 3.2 ml/kg/min to 11.3 ± 3.4 ml/kg/min (p = 0.9). Changes after CRT between groups were highly significant. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of unfavorable CS branches of anatomy, CRT by a surgical minithoracotomic approach is preferable to transvenous lead implantation.

Atrial pacing or ventricular backup-only pacing in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients.

BACKGROUND: The need for pacing support in typical ICD patients is unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine whether atrial pacing with ventricular backup pacing is equivalent to ventricular backup pacing only in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients. METHODS: We randomized 1,030 patients from 84 sites with indications for ICDs, with sinus rhythm, and without symptomatic bradycardia to atrial pacing with ventricular backup at 60 beats/min (518) or ventricular backup pacing at 40 beats/min (512). The primary end points were time to death, heart failure hospitalization (HFH), and heart failure-related urgent care (HFUC). RESULTS: Follow-up was 2.4 ± 0.8 years when the trial was stopped for futility. There were 355 end point events (103 deaths, 252 HFH/HFUC) in 194 patients favoring ventricular backup pacing (event-free rate 77.7% vs. 80.3% for atrial pacing at 30 months; hazard ratio 1.14, upper confidence bound 1.59, prespecified noninferiority threshold 1.21), therefore equivalence between pacing arms was not demonstrated. Overall HFH/HFUC rates were slightly higher during atrial pacing (event-free rate 85.4% vs. 86.4% for ventricular backup pacing). Exploratory analyses revealed that the difference in HFH/HFUC rates was largely seen in patients with a PR interval ≥230 ms. There were no differences between groups for atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation, quality of life, or echocardiographic measurements. Fewer patients in the atrial pacing group were reported to develop an indication for bradycardia pacing (3.7% vs. 7.3%, P = .0053). CONCLUSION: Equivalence between atrial pacing and ventricular backup pacing only could not be demonstrated. CLINICAL TRIALS IDENTIFIER: NCT00281099.

Imaging of cardiac venous system in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy by 64-slice computed tomography: comparison between non-ischemic and ischemic etiology.

It is unknown whether dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) etiology influences cardiac veins (CVs) anatomy. By multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) we studied CVs of 93 patients with normal cardiac function (Group1) and of 99 DCM patients. In the latter we used a standard scanning coronary artery protocol (Group2, n=62) or a protocol specifically tailored to assess CVs in DCM (Group3, n=37). We also performed in all patients invasive coronary angiography. Group 1 had more CVs (83%) vs. DCM patients (72% and 76% in Groups 2 and 3 respectively, p<0.05). Group 2 had a higher percentage of CVs with insufficient imaging quality score (43 out of 224 veins, 19%) vs. Group 1 (6%, p<0.01) and Group 3 (11%, p<0.05) mainly due to low signal/noise ratio (32 out of 43 veins, 74%). Ischemic DCM patients had a lower CVs number (86/135, 64%) vs. both Group 1 patients and vs. non-ischemic DCM. Therefore MDCT is feasible for assessing CVs in DCM using scanning CVs tailored protocols. Ischemic DCM patients have a lower number of CVs compared to normal systolic function or non-ischemic DCM patients.

Image integration-guided catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have provided details of left atrial anatomy by means of the image integration techniques, particularly focusing on the atypical patterns of the pulmonary veins. OBJECTIVE: To compare, in a prospective, randomized fashion, the conventional method of pulmonary vein disconnection and the image integration-guided approach. METHODS: Two hundred and ninety consecutive patients (290 patients, mean age 55 +/- 11 years) with drug-refractory paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation were enrolled in the study and were divided into two treatment groups: group 1 (145 patients) undergoing an imaging integration-guided (CartoMerge TM) ablation; group 2 (145 patients) treated by a conventional radiofrequency catheter ablation procedure. The arrhythmia was refractory to at least two antiarrhythmic drugs (IC, amiodarone). RESULTS: Electrical disconnection of all identified pulmonary veins was obtained in all patients of both groups. Bidirectional block of the cavotricuspid isthmus was achieved in 34 group 1 patients and in 40 group 2 patients. Left mitral isthmus ablation was attempted in 52 group 1 patients and in 56 group 2 patients. At a mean follow-up of 14 +/- 12 months, the atrial fibrillation-free survival rate was significantly higher in group 1 patients compared with group 2 patients (88% vs 69%, P = 0.017). The analysis for the subset of patients with previously ineffective ablation (98 patients: 52 group 1 patients and 46 group 2 patients) showed a significantly lower recurrence rate in group 1 versus group 2 (19% vs 48%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate a superior efficacy of the image-integration guided catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation over the long term.

Percutaneous cardiopulmonary support for catheter ablation of unstable ventricular arrhythmias in high-risk patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with severe cardiomyopathy, recurrent episodes of nontolerated ventricular tachycardia (VT) or electrical storm (ES) frequently cause acute heart failure and cardiac death; the suppression of the arrhythmia is therefore lifesaving, but feasibility of catheter ablation (CA) is precluded by the adverse hemodynamic conditions together with the characteristics of the arrhythmia that interdicts efficacious mapping. The use of the percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (CPS) for circulatory assistance may allow patient's stabilization and enhance efficacy and safety of CA in this emergency setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 19 patients (19 males; mean age 61 +/- 6 years; chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, eleven patients; primary dilated cardiomyopathy, six patients; arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/ cardiomyopathy, two patients) with recurrent nontolerated VT episodes undergoing CPS-assisted CA were retrospectively evaluated. Twelve patients had acute hemodynamic failure refractory to inotropic agents and ventilatory assistance, seven patients had undergone a failing nonconventional CA procedure. 14 patients presented with ES, and in twelve the procedure was undertaken under emergency conditions within 24 h from admission. Patients were ventilated under general anesthesia and assisted by a multidisciplinary team. The CPS system consisted in a Medtronic Bio-Medicus centrifugal pump and in a Maxima Plus oxygenator, a 15-F arterial cannula, and a 17-F venous cannula. RESULTS: Flows between 2 and 3 l/min were activated after induction of 56/62 forms of nontolerated VT, achieving hemodynamic stabilization in all patients. CA was mainly guided by conventional activation mapping and was effective in abolishing 45/56 supported VTs; in 10/19 patients all clinical VTs were suppressed by CA. Mean procedural time was 4 h and 20 min. Complete stabilization was achieved in 13 patients (68%) without VT recurrence during a 7-day in-hospital monitoring. A significant clinical improvement was observed in two patients (11%); one patient (5%) with persistent VT episodes acutely died after heart transplant. At a mean follow-up of 42 months (range 15-60 months), 5/18 patients (28%) were free from VT recurrence, 7/18 (39%) had a clear clinical improvement with reduced implantable cardioverter defibrillator interventions. 5/14 patients (36%) had ES recurrence; among them, three died because of acute heart failure. No serious CPS-related complications were observed. CONCLUSION: The CPS warrants acceptable hemodynamic stabilization and efficacious mapping in high-risk patients undergoing CA for unstable VT in the emergency setting. Safety and efficacy of this technique translate into significant clinical improvement in the majority of patients. Even if only relatively invasive, CPS should be reserved to patients with ES or intractable arrhythmia causing acute heart failure; moreover, the need for an experienced team of multidisciplinary operators implies that its use is restricted to selected high-competency institutions.

Assessment of cardiac resynchronization therapy response.

The present study was performed to evaluate how to assess cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) efficacy in chronic heart failure (CHF) through clinical, echocardiographic and exercise analysis. We analyzed 41 stable CHF (NYHA III) patients with: left bundle-branch-block, ejection fraction <35%, left-ventricular dissynchrony (by tissue-Doppler), peak oxygen consumption (VO2) <16 ml/kg/min, suitable cardiac vein (by multislice computed tomography) and no anemia or kidney failure. Patients were evaluated before and after (7+/-3 months) CRT. Two patients died. CRT responders to none of the evaluated criteria were 19.5%. The best agreement (90%) with clinical response was obtained using the presence/absence of either left-ventricular systolic volume (LVSV) or peakVO2 response. In less severe CHF (peakVO2 12-16 ml/kg/min), peakVO2 and work-load didn't change after CRT, despite echocardiographic, ventilation/carbon dioxide relationship and clinical improvement. Echocardiography and CPET are complementary for the evaluation of CRT, but not in less severe CHF patients, where the role of CPET remain uncertain.

Catheter ablation for the treatment of electrical storm in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: short- and long-term outcomes in a prospective single-center study.

BACKGROUND: Electrical storm (ES) caused by recurrent episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) can cause sudden death in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and adversely affects prognosis in survivors. Catheter ablation has been proposed for treating ES, but its long-term effect in a large population has never been verified. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-five consecutive patients with coronary artery disease (72 patients), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (10 patients), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (13 patients) undergoing catheter ablation for drug-refractory ES were prospectively evaluated. Short-term efficacy was defined by a complete protocol of programmed electric stimulation and by in-hospital outcome; long-term analysis addressed ES recurrence, cardiac mortality, and VT recurrence. Pleomorphic/nontolerated VTs required electroanatomic and noncontact mapping in 48 and 22 patients, respectively, and percutaneous cardiopulmonary support in 10 patients. An epicardial approach was used in 10 patients. After 1 to 3 procedures, induction of any clinical VT(s) by programmed electrical stimulation was prevented in 85 patients (89%). ES was acutely suppressed in all patients; a minimum period of 7 days with stable rhythm was required before hospital discharge. At a median follow-up of 22 months (range, 1 to 43 months), 87 patients (92%) were free of ES and 63 patients (66%) were free of VT recurrence. Eight of 10 patients with persistent inducibility of clinical VT(s) had ES recurrence; 4 of them died suddenly despite appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator intervention. All together, 11 of 95 patients (12%) died of cardiac-related reasons. In the group of patients presenting with all clinical VTs acutely abolished, no ES recurrence was documented, and cardiac mortality was significantly lower compared with the group of patients showing > or = 1 clinical VT still inducible after catheter ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced strategies of catheter ablation applied to a large population of patients are effective in the short-term treatment of ES. By preventing ES recurrence, catheter ablation may play a protective role over the long term and, together with long-term pharmacological therapy, may favorably affect cardiac mortality.

Left mitral isthmus ablation associated with PV Isolation: long-term results of a prospective randomized study.

BACKGROUND: The deployment of an ablation line connecting the left inferior PV to the mitral annulus (mitral isthmus line [MIL]) enhances the efficacy of pulmonary vein disconnection (PVD) in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrences. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the long-term effect of the additional linear lesion in a prospective randomized study. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-seven patients (37 females, mean age: 55 +/- 11 years) with paroxysmal (126) or persistent (61 patients) AF, were prospectively randomized into two groups: PVD (group A, 92 patients) or PVD combined with MIL (group B, 95 patients), performed by means of an irrigated-tip ablation catheter. RESULTS: Successful disconnection of all PVs was achieved in all patients. A bidirectional block (BB) along the left atrial isthmus was obtained in 72 of 95 (76%) patients in group B, most of whom required additional RF pulses from within the distal CS. A transient ischemic attack occurred in 1 patient of group A, and a cardiac tamponade occurred in 1 patient of group B. At 1 year, 53 +/- 5% (group A) and 71 +/- 5% (group B) remained arrhythmia free (P = 0.01); subgroup analysis highlights a higher improvement among patients with persistent AF (74 +/- 9% vs 36 +/- 9%; P < 0.01) than what was observed in paroxysmal AF (76 +/- 6% vs 62 +/- 6%; P < 0.05); antiarrhythmic drugs were continued in 56% and 50%, respectively, in groups A and B (P = ns). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of mitral isthmus line to the PV disconnection allows a significant improvement of sinus rhythm maintenance rate, particularly in patients with persistent AF, without the risk for major complications.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy improves heart rate profile and heart rate variability of patients with moderate to severe heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to report long-term changes of cardiac autonomic control by continuous, device-based monitoring of the standard deviation of the averages of intrinsic intervals in the 288 five-min segments of a day (SDANN) and of heart rate (HR) profile in heart failure (HF) patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). BACKGROUND: Data on long-term changes of time-domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and of HR in highly symptomatic HF patients treated with CRT are lacking. METHODS: Stored data were retrieved for 113 HF patients (New York Heart Association functional class III to IV, left ventricular ejection fraction < or =35%, QRS >120 ms) receiving a CRT device capable of continuous assessment of HRV and HR profile. RESULTS: The CRT induced a reduction of minimum HR (from 63 +/- 9 beats/min to 58 +/- 7 beats/min, p < 0.001) and mean HR (from 76 +/- 10 beats/min to 72 +/- 8 beats/min, p < 0.01) and an increase of SDANN (from 69 +/- 23 ms to 93 +/- 27 ms, p < 0.001) at three-month follow-up, which were consistent with improvement of functional capacity and structural changes. Different kinetics were observed among these parameters. The SDANN reached the plateau before minimum HR, and mean HR was the slowest parameter to change. Suboptimal left ventricular lead position was associated with no significant functional and structural improvement as well as no change or even worsening of HRV. The two-year event-free survival rate was significantly lower (62% vs. 94%, p < 0.005) in patients without any SDANN change (Delta change < or =0%) compared with patients who showed an increase in SDANN (Delta change >0%) four weeks after CRT initiation. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is able to significantly modify the sympathetic-parasympathetic interaction to the heart, as defined by HR profile and HRV. Lack of HRV improvement four weeks after CRT identifies patients at higher risk for major cardiovascular events.

Long-term reduction of atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences in patients paced for bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) are considered progressive diseases. Several rhythm control therapies for treatment of AT have been proposed. OBJECTIVES: The Italian AT500 Registry was designed to prospectively study long-term AT evolution in patients paced for the brady-tachy form of sinus node disease (BT-SND). METHODS: Three hundred forty-six BT-SND patients received an antitachycardia dual-chamber pacemaker and were followed-up for a minimum of 12 months (median 19 months). Prevention and antitachycardia pacing (ATP) features were enabled in all patients. RESULTS: During the observation period, 224 (65%) patients were treated by antiarrhythmic drugs and 45 (13%) patients were cardioverted. Five patients suffered a stroke, 4 transient ischemic attack, 22 permanent AT, and 98 AT recurrences longer than 7 days. AT mean cycle length changed from 246 to 270 ms, and the percentage of patients with AT-related hospitalizations significantly decreased with an annual 28% relative reduction. AT burden and the percentage of patients with AT recurrences longer than 2 days remained constant with time in the overall population but decreased significantly in the subgroup of patients who did not develop permanent AT. High ATP efficacy was associated with an increasingly higher prevention of AT recurrences longer than 2 days. CONCLUSION: In a long-term observation of BT-SND patients, AT-related hospitalizations decreased significantly and mean AT cycle length increased significantly. The data suggest that rhythm control therapies induce inversion of AT progression.

Long-term follow-up after radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: role of the acute procedure outcome and of the clinical presentation.

AIMS: This study is a single centre long-term experience on a consecutive cohort of patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing electrical disconnection of pulmonary veins (PVs) by means of catheter ablation. Long-term outcome was analyzed in relation to acute procedure success and to the clinical presentation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-four patients (182 males, mean age 55.9+/-10.6 years), affected by paroxysmal (78%) or persistent AF, underwent an electrophysiologically guided isolation of PVs. ECG, Holter and clinical follow-up were obtained at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. At discharge an antiarrhythmic drug, Flecainide, was given only in cases with incomplete disconnection; Amiodarone was administered in all persistent AF pts. Successful disconnection of all PVs was achieved in 90% of cases. The rate of stable sinus rhythm maintenance was 85%, 74%, 72% and 65% at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively. The one-year arrhythmia free survival rates were higher among patients with paroxysmal AF (68% vs. 54%, P 0.008), those with complete disconnection of all PVs and in patients younger than 55 years. CONCLUSIONS: The electrical disconnection of all the pulmonary veins should be the minimal endpoint of radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with either paroxysmal or persistent AF. Incomplete disconnection of the PVs is predictive of recurrence. Long-term results of the ablation procedure were significantly better in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Incidence and significance of pleomorphism in patients with postmyocardial infarction ventricular tachycardia. Acute and long-term outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation.

AIMS: The prognostic significance of multiple ventricular tachycardia (VT) morphologies, whether spontaneous or induced, was investigated in patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for postinfarction ventricular tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 137 patients with postinfarction ventricular tachycardia. Catheter ablation of all induced ventricular tachycardias was attempted. A single ventricular tachycardia morphology was documented in 102/137 patients (MONO group); 35 patients had spontaneous pleomorphism (PLEO group). Multiple VT morphologies were induced in 58/102 (57%) MONO patients and in all PLEO patients. A higher rate of arrhythmia suppression was obtained in MONO as compared to PLEO patients (162/212 [76%] vs. 43/110 [39%]). Clinical presentation (VT pleomorphism) (OR: 0.22, CI: 0.08-0.62) and the induced VT cycle (mean PLEO/MONO: 338/385 ms, OR: 1.06) were independent predictors of acute RFCA success. Among MONO patients, the procedure was successful in 75% of the patients with a single induced ventricular tachycardia compared to 64% of those with multiple tachycardias. The acute success rate was lower in PLEO patients (23%). PLEO patients had a significantly higher 3- and 5-year arrhythmia recurrence rate than MONO patients. RFCA acute success was the only independent predictor of long-term outcome in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous, but not induced, VT pleomorphism in patients with prior myocardial infarction adversely affects the acute and long-term success rate of RFCA.