Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with postinfarction left ventricular aneurysm

Background While ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the setting of postmyocardial infarction left ventricular aneurysms (LVA) is not uncommonly encountered, there is a scarcity of data regarding the safety, efficacy, and outcomes of ablation of VT in this subset of patients. Methods Our study included consecutive patients aged 18 years or older with postmyocardial infarction LVA who presented to Mayo Clinic for catheter ablation of VT between 2002 and 2018. Results Of 34 patients, the mean age was 70.4 +/- 9.1 years; 91% were male. Mean LVEF was 29 +/- 9.7% and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was 64.9 +/- 6.6 mm. The site of the LVA was apical in 21 patients (62%). Fifteen patients (44%) presented with electrical storm or incessant VT. Nine patients (26%) had a history of intracardiac thrombus. All except for one patient had at least one VT originating from the aneurysm. The mean number of VTs was 2.9 +/- 1.7. All patients underwent ablation at the site of the aneurysm. Ablation outside the aneurysm was performed in 13 patients (38%). Low-voltage fractionated potentials and/or late potentials at the aneurysmal site were present in all cases. Complete elimination of all VTs was achieved in 18 (53%), while the elimination of the clinical VT with continued inducibility of nonclinical VTs was achieved in a further 11 patients (32%). Two patients developed cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis. During a mean follow-up period of 2.3 +/- 2.4 years, 11 patients (32%) experienced VT recurrence. Freedom from all-cause mortality at 1-year follow-up was 94%. Conclusion Radiofrequency catheter ablation targeting the aneurysmal site is a feasible and reasonably effective management strategy for clinical VTs in patients with postinfarction LVA.