Via practica 6/2008

RADIOFERQUENCY CATHETER ABLATION OF VENTRICULAR ARRYTHMIAS

Ventricular arrhythmias present fearful diagnostic entity. They have different forms with different clinical impact. In all cases there is a strong need of a detailed diagnostic evaluation and adequate therapeutic plan. Because of limited possibilities of antiarrhythmic pharmacotherapy, other, mainly nonpharmacological therapies were persued, which would allow elimination, or modification of the arrhythmia substrate. In this article we present and review current possibilities of radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias. In the field of idiopathic ventricular tachycardias we can offer curative treatment in most cases, in ventricular tachycardias associated with organic heart disease we can eliminate the clinical ventricular arrhythmia, which is a paliative procedure incorporated in a more complex hybrid therapy. These intervencions should be done in highly specialised centers with up to date technical equipment and personel having a lot of skills handling even the most complex and difficult situations.

Keywords: ventricular tachycardia, catheter therapy, indications for catheter ablation.