Why the study?
Does video-assisted thoracoscopic atrial appendectomy terminate drug-resistant atrial tachycardia originating from the left atrial appendage?
Does video-assisted thoracoscopic atrial appendectomy terminate drug-resistant atrial tachycardia originating from the left atrial appendage?
Video-assisted thoracoscopic atrial appendectomy may be an effective treatment for focal atrial tachycardia originating from the left atrial appendage when catheter ablation fails.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support VAT appendectomy as bailout for refractory left atrial appendage tachycardia after failed ablation; hypothesis-generating pending larger series.
A 17-year-old male with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy presented with persistent, drug-resistant atrial tachycardia (AT). An electrophysiological study suggested focal abnormal automaticity, and localized the AT origin to the left atrial appendage. Radiofrequency catheter ablation at the site of the earliest endocardial activation during AT failed. A minimally invasive, video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) atrial appendectomy terminated the AT and restored left ventricular contractility. The patient remained free of AT and normal left ventricular function was maintained over a 24-month follow-up period. To our knowledge, we are the first to use VAT atrial appendectomy to treat focal AT.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Yamada et al. (2006) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: