OBJECTIVE: A case of incessant ventricular tachycardia in a patient with Chagas' disease that was successfully terminated by chemical ablation is reported. BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease is a common medical problem in South America. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias, atrioventricular conduction disturbances, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death are important manifestations of this disease. METHODS: Selective catheterization of the coronary artery supplying the arrhythmogenic area was performed by using a conventional angioplasty system and the arrhythmogenic area was ablated by injection of 96% sterile ethanol. RESULTS: Ethanol (96%) injection initially in a lateral branch of the left circumflex artery and 2 days later in the proximal segment of the artery resulted in termination of ventricular tachycardia. Two weeks after ablation, programmed ventricular stimulation failed to induce ventricular tachycardia. CONCLUSION: Transcoronary chemical ablation should be considered in selected cases of Chagas' disease with incessant ventricular tachycardia.
OBJECTIVE: A case of incessant ventricular tachycardia in a patient with Chagas' disease that was successfully terminated by chemical ablation is reported. BACKGROUND:Chagas' disease is a common medical problem in South America. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias, atrioventricular conduction disturbances, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death are important manifestations of this disease. METHODS: Selective catheterization of the coronary artery supplying the arrhythmogenic area was performed by using a conventional angioplasty system and the arrhythmogenic area was ablated by injection of 96% sterile ethanol. RESULTS:Ethanol (96%) injection initially in a lateral branch of the left circumflex artery and 2 days later in the proximal segment of the artery resulted in termination of ventricular tachycardia. Two weeks after ablation, programmed ventricular stimulation failed to induce ventricular tachycardia. CONCLUSION: Transcoronary chemical ablation should be considered in selected cases of Chagas' disease with incessant ventricular tachycardia.