Case report: alternating exit sites in reentry circuit of ventricular tachycardia with nonischemic cardiomyopathy - relationship between ablation site and inner loop

• Published in: Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology 2001-12, Vol.5 (4), p.471-475
• Main Authors: Nishizaki, M, Ashikaga, T, Arita, M, Yamawake, N, Sakurada, H, Numano, F, Hiraoka, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - complications; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - surgery; Catheter Ablation; Electrocardiography; Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; Female; Heart Conduction System - surgery; Humans; Middle Aged; Tachycardia, Ventricular - complications; Tachycardia, Ventricular - surgery
• ISSN: 1383-875X; 1572-8595
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1013210415093

We present a patient with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who had ventricular tachycardia (VT) with QRS morphology alternans. VTs of two QRS morphologies (VT1 and VT2) exhibiting a right bundle branch block pattern with inferior axis was induced by ventricular pacing. The morphology of the QRS complex during VT1 exhibited more distinctively inferior axis than those during VT2. Induced VTs had similar morphologies to clinically the documented VTs. Pacemapping at anterolateral site of the left ventricle during sinus rhythm produced the same QRS complex of VT1 in a surface 12-lead electrocardiogram. A mapping study was performed with an electrode catheter located at the same site of LV during sustained VT1. The analysis of the local electrograms and postpacing interval during concealed entrainment at the catheter mapping revealed this pacing site was at the inner loop of the reentry circuit. Radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed at this site. The morphology of VT1 changed to different QRS morphology (VT2) during the first delivery of radiofrequency energy and was terminated after 20 seconds of the application. Then VT with alternans of QRS morphology and cycle length of VT1 and VT2 was induced by ventricular pacing, and was abolished by the second application of radiofrequency energy at this same site, suggesting that this site was located in the exit site close to inner loop of the reentry circuit and the alternans of QRS morphology was linked to the change of exit site.