SURGICAL ENDOCARDIAL RESECTION FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALIGNANT VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Ventricular tachycardia is a frequent postinfarction and perioperative arrhythmia. Recurrent ventricular tachycardia is less common, but is both physiologically and psychologically incapacitating when it occurs. Despite early reports of success with coronary artery bypass grafting as a treatment for these arrhythmias, recent series report disappointing results of revascularization with or without concurrent left ventricular aneurysmectomy. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe a new surgical technique - endocardial excision - as a treatment for recurrent ventricular tachycardia in 12 patients.