BACKGROUND: EnSite array (EA) provides virtual activation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and premature ventricular contraction (PVC) on a beat-to-beat basis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-five consecutive patients (age 52+/-16 years) with 79 VTs/PVCs undergoing EA-guided radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) were studied, of whom 7 patients had organic heart diseases. A virtual activation map showed that 66 VTs/PVCs originated from the right ventricle (RV), including the RV outflow tract in 57, lateral wall of RV in 4, His bundle region in 3 and tricuspid annulus in 2. Ten VTs/PVCs originated from the left ventricle (LV), including the LV endocardium in 7 and aortic sinus cusp in 3. The origins of 3 PVCs, one each in 3 patients, were not identified. Six of 38 VTs were sustained and the remaining 32 VTs were non-sustained. RFA eliminated all but 3 focal PVCs, and all macroreentrant VTs at a critical conducting pathway, which was identified by the combined use of contact voltage and virtual activation maps. There were 11+/-9 applications, and the radiofrequency energy and fluoroscopy time were 11,354+/-13,360 J and 30+/-21 min, respectively. All patients with acute success were free of any symptoms during a follow up of 21+/-11 months. CONCLUSIONS: EA-guided RFA is safe and effective for VT/PVC, irrespective of its origin, mechanism, sustainability, hemodynamic condition, and underlying heart disease.
BACKGROUND: EnSite array (EA) provides virtual activation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and premature ventricular contraction (PVC) on a beat-to-beat basis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-five consecutive patients (age 52+/-16 years) with 79 VTs/PVCs undergoing EA-guided radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) were studied, of whom 7 patients had organic heart diseases. A virtual activation map showed that 66 VTs/PVCs originated from the right ventricle (RV), including the RV outflow tract in 57, lateral wall of RV in 4, His bundle region in 3 and tricuspid annulus in 2. Ten VTs/PVCs originated from the left ventricle (LV), including the LV endocardium in 7 and aortic sinus cusp in 3. The origins of 3 PVCs, one each in 3 patients, were not identified. Six of 38 VTs were sustained and the remaining 32 VTs were non-sustained. RFA eliminated all but 3 focal PVCs, and all macroreentrant VTs at a critical conducting pathway, which was identified by the combined use of contact voltage and virtual activation maps. There were 11+/-9 applications, and the radiofrequency energy and fluoroscopy time were 11,354+/-13,360 J and 30+/-21 min, respectively. All patients with acute success were free of any symptoms during a follow up of 21+/-11 months. CONCLUSIONS: EA-guided RFA is safe and effective for VT/PVC, irrespective of its origin, mechanism, sustainability, hemodynamic condition, and underlying heart disease.