Percutaneous cryoablation for papillary muscle ventricular arrhythmias after failed radiofrequency catheter ablation.

BACKGROUND

Catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) from the papillary muscles (PM) is challenging due to limited catheter stability and contact on the PMs with their anatomic complexity and mobility.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cryoablation as an adjunctive therapy for PM VAs when radiofrequency (RF) ablation has failed.

METHODS

We evaluated a retrospective series of patients who underwent cryoablation for PM VAs when RF ablation had failed. The decision to switch to cryoablation was at the operator's discretion when intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) suggested that cryoablation might be more effective in achieving catheter stability and energy delivery.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients underwent cryoablation of PM VAs between 2014 and 2016 after RF ablation was unsuccessful. VAs originated from the anterolateral left ventricle (LV) PM (six patients), posterolateral LV PM (six patients), and right ventricle PM (four patients). VAs were predominantly frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs); however, patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia and PVC-triggered VF were also represented. Fifteen of the 16 patients were treated with cryoablation; in one patient, a procedural complication with retrograde aortic access precluded treatment. In all patients treated with cryoablation, contact and stability was confirmed with ICE to be superior to the RF catheter, and there was acute and long-term elimination of VAs.

CONCLUSION

Cryoablation is a useful adjunctive therapy in ablation of PM VAs, providing excellent procedural outcomes even when RF ablation has failed. Cryoablation catheters are less maneuverable than RF ablation catheters and care is required to avoid complications.