Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Fibrillation

Abstract

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a common and life-threatening arrhythmia resulting in sudden cardiac death (SCD). Due to the inherent challenges of mapping VF in humans, the underlying mechanisms that initiate and sustain this common arrhythmia are still poorly understood. In high-risk patients and survivors of SCD, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) play a central role in treating VF episodes, however, ICDs do not prevent VF recurrences and patients remain at risk of electrical storm and multiple shocks that are often refractory to escalation of medical therapy. More recently, the utility of catheter ablation (CA) has extended to the treatment of VF storms. This review will focus on updates in elucidating the mechanism of VF leading into the role and indication of CA as a treatment strategy.

Keywords: Catheter ablation; Premature ventricular contraction; Purkinje system; Sudden cardiac death; Ventricular fibrillation.