Catheter ablation for electrical storm has documented success rates between 79% and 94% in larger studies, improving survival and freedom from recurrent ventricular arrhythmia.
Does catheter ablation improve survival and freedom from ventricular arrhythmia in patients with electrical storm?
Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for electrical storm that improves survival and freedom from recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, and should be considered early in the treatment plan.
Electrical storm (ES) is defined as the occurrence of ≥ three distinct episodes of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in patients with implanted defibrillators within 24 h. Whereas conventional strategies for acute rhythm stabilization may be effective in some patients the occurrence of ES impairs survival and predicts recurrent VA. Catheter ablation in the setting of ES is complex and involves decisive strategies for individualized ablation approaches adapted to the patient's cardiac abnormalities. Success rates have been documented to be between 79 and 94% in larger studies and effective ablation improves survival and freedom from any VA. Ablation should be considered early in the treatment plan and availability may be improved by interhospital collaboration with highly experienced VA intervention centers.
Deneke et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Electrical storm. Catheter ablation was evaluated. Catheter ablation for electrical storm has documented success rates between 79% and 94% in larger studies, improving survival and freedom from recurrent ventricular arrhythmia.