Electrophysiologic and histopathologic findings of the ablation sites for ventricular fibrillation in a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy

Abstract

We examined autopsy specimens from a patient with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular fibrillation. There was site specific arrhythmogenesis of the trigger ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) and Purkinje potentials were recorded before the onset of the QRS. In postmortem examination, fibromuscular bands connecting the posterior papillary muscle and ventricular septum were recognized at the successful ablation sites of the trigger VPCs and the microscopic examinations revealed Purkinje cells in the center of that fibromuscular band.