Different forms of ventricular tachycardia involving the left anterior fascicle in nonischemic cardiomyopathy: critical sites of the reentrant circuit in low-voltage areas.

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to examine the reentrant circuit of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) involving the left anterior fascicle (LAF) in nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

Six patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy presented with VTs involving the LAF. Potentials in the diastolic or presystolic phase of the VT were identified close to the LAF in 3 patients and in the mid or inferior left ventricular (LV) septum in 3 patients. Superimposed on a CARTO or NavX 3-dimensional voltage map, the diastolic and presystolic potentials were recorded within or at the border of a low-voltage zone in the LV septum in all cases. In 2 patients, both left bundle fascicles participated in the reentrant circuit including a possible interfascicular VT in one case. Ablation targeting the diastolic or presystolic potentials near the LAF or in the midinferior LV septum eliminated the VTs in all patients with the occurrence of a left posterior fascicular block and the delayed occurrence of a complete atrioventricular block in each one patient. During the follow-up of 23 +/- 20 months after ablation, 4 patients were free of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Due to detoriation of heart failure, one patient died after 12 months and one patient underwent heart transplantation after 40 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Slow conduction in diseased myocardium close to the LAF or in the middle and inferior aspects of the LV septum may represent the diastolic pathway of VT involving the LAF.