Outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias : Electrocardiographic features in relation to mapping and ablation.

Abstract

Ventricular arrhythmia arising from the outflow tracts can manifest itself as frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), salvos of ventricular tachycardia (VT), and/or sustained VT. It is amenable to management with medication and catheter ablation without need for an intracardiac defibrillator. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is acrucial tool in the management of these patients as it is can help localize the site of origin, thereby helping guide the electrophysiologist. An appreciation of the unique anatomy of the outflow tracts as well as their relationships with the surrounding structures is essential in interpreting the ECG. In this review, we examine the ECG features of the various outflow tract arrhythmia morphologies with a focus on anatomy and provide an approach to the ablation of these abnormal rhythms.