Approach selection of radiofrequency catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias originating from the left ventricular summit: potential relevance of Pseudo Delta wave, Intrinsicoid deflection time, maximal deflection index

Abstract Background Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) originating from the left ventricular summit is a challenge for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). The present study aimed to investigate the appropriate RFCA strategy for VAs originating from the left ventricular summit. Methods Forty-five consecutive patients with VAs arising from the left ventricular summit were successfully ablated at our cardiac electrophysiology center and reviewed in the study. Results Thirty-two cases of VAs were eliminated in the left ventricular endocardium by retrograde transaortic ( n  = 22, 22/45, 48.9%) or antegrade transseptal ( n  = 10, 10/45, 22.2%) approaches, the other 13 cases were eliminated in the left ventricular epicardium by distal great cardiac vein (DGCV) approach ( n  = 13, 13/45, 28.9%). Though these VAs were similar in electrocardiographic (ECG) morphology, the pseudo delta waves (PDW), intrinsicoid deflection time (IDT), maximal deflection index (MDI) differed among them, PDW >53 ms, IDT > 74 ms, MDI > 0.45 strongly indicated that ablating left ventricular summit VAs by DGCV approach. During mean follow-up of 19.5 ± 13.2 (range, 3-60) months, 2 (4.4%) patients experienced VAs recurrence. Conclusion This retrospective study showed that VAs of left ventricular summit origin can be effectively cured with RFCA. For these VAs, prolonged PdW, IDT, MDI indicating RFCA by DGCV approach can be attempted firstly.