Stellate ganglion block effectively stabilized a 50-year-old woman with refractory ventricular tachycardia and biventricular heart failure as a bridge to heart transplantation.
Does stellate ganglion block improve control of refractory ventricular arrhythmias in a patient with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure?
Stellate ganglion blockade can serve as an effective temporizing measure for refractory ventricular arrhythmias in patients with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy awaiting heart transplantation.
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%
Desmoplakin cardiomyopathy is a rare, genetic condition that often leads to dangerous arrhythmias, ventricular scarring, and eventual heart failure. Here, the case of a 50-year-old woman suffering from both ventricular storm and biventricular heart failure is discussed. Her ventricular tachycardia proved resistant to several antiarrhythmic medications, which made it difficult to maintain proper cardiac output. To stabilize her condition temporarily, a stellate ganglion block was performed until she could undergo successful orthotopic heart transplantation. When antiarrhythmic drugs are unsuitable or fail to control electrical storms, stellate ganglion blockade presents a valid alternative. For patients with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy, especially when combined with mechanical circulatory support, this approach can serve as an effective bridge to cardiac transplant.
Ibitamuno et al. (Sun,) reported a other. Stellate ganglion block effectively stabilized a 50-year-old woman with refractory ventricular tachycardia and biventricular heart failure as a bridge to heart transplantation.