Catheter ablation of ventricular fibrillation storm in patients with infiltrative amyloidosis of the heart

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2006 Apr;17(4):426-30. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8167.2005.00321.x.

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated that premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) originating from the Purkinje system are responsible for initiation of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with and without structural heart disease. Ablation of the PVCs has been shown to be feasible. We report 2 patients with repetitive VF associated with cardiac amyloidosis. Each episode of ventricular arrhythmia was preceded by monomorphic PVC. The electrical storms were drug resistant. Electrophysiological testing was performed and the sites of earliest activation were localized within the left ventricle in the absence of significant scar tissue. After ablation, PVCs subsided and there were no further VF recurrences.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / complications*
  • Amyloidosis / diagnosis
  • Amyloidosis / physiopathology
  • Cardiomyopathies / complications*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnosis
  • Cardiomyopathies / physiopathology
  • Catheter Ablation / methods*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / complications
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / physiopathology
  • Ventricular Fibrillation / surgery*