Aims: For ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients after myocardial infarction, a three-dimensional mapping system is often used. We report on our overall success rate of VT ablation using CARTO in 47 patients, with a subgroup analysis comparing VT mapping with the results of mapping that had to be performed during sinus rhythm or pacing (substrate mapping).
Methods and results: A CARTO map was performed and VT ablation attempted using two strategies: Patients in the VT-mapping group had incessant VT (four patients) or inducible stable VT (18 patients) such that the circuit of the clinical VT could be reconstructed using CARTO. During VT, the critical area of slow conduction was identified using diastolic potentials and conventional concealed entrainment pacing. In contrast, patients in the substrate-mapping group had initially inducible VT. However, a complete VT map was not possible because of catheter-induced mechanical block (six patients) or because haemodynamics deteriorated during the ongoing VT (19 patients). Therefore, pathological myocardium was identified by fragmented, late- and/or low-amplitude (<1.5 mV) bipolar potentials during sinus rhythm or pacing, and the ablation site was primarily determined by pace mapping inside or at the border of this pathological myocardium. Acute ablation success in all patients with regard to non-inducibility of the clinical VT or any slower VT was 79% after a single ablation procedure, but increased to 95% after a mean of 1.2 ablation procedures. However, chronic success was 75%, when it was defined as freedom from any ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT or VF) during a follow-up of 25+/-13 months. In the subgroup analysis, patients in the VT-mapping group were not significantly different from patients in the substrate-mapping group with regard to age (65+/-7 vs. 65+/-9 years), ejection fraction (30+/-7 vs. 30+/-8%), VT cycle length (448+/-81 vs. 429+/-82 ms), number of radiofrequency applications (17+/-9 vs. 14+/-6 applications), use of an irrigated tip catheter (23 vs. 32%), and ablation results.
Conclusion: When using a CARTO-guided approach for VT ablation in patients with coronary artery disease, the freedom from any ventricular arrhythmia is high (75%), but leaves the patient at a 23% risk of developing fast VT/VF during follow-up. Mapping during sinus rhythm or pacing is as successful as mapping during VT.