Abstract

Electrical storm (ES) is defined as three or more episodes of ventricular arrhythmia requiring defibrilltaion or anti tachycardia pacing within a day.Some times electrical storm may not respond to anti-arrhythmic drugs alone.Increased sympathetic activity plays significant role in electrical storm.Stellate ganglion blockade reduces sympathetic activity and helpful in reduction of ventricular arrhythmias. We aimed to study the effectiveness and outcomes of percutaneous stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) in the patients with drug-refractory electrical storm. The study included patients with a drug-refractory electrical storm. Before giving SGB, at least two anti-arrhythmic drugs(AAD) were given before SGB. Bupivacaine was injected in the vicinity of the stellate ganglion under Ultrasound quidance. A total of 83 procedures were performed on 56 patients (71% males, 60+6 years).Fourty three patients (76%) had ischemic heart disease. Nearly 66%(37/56) of patients were free from ventricular arrhythmias(VA) at 24 hours after left SGB and 51%(29/56) were arrhythmia free at 72 hours. Bilateral SGB was done in 16 patients who had failed left-sided SGB with a success rate of 36%. Heart failure and shock were documented in 65% and 55% respectively. Twenty Five (44%) patients were on both Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and inotrope support. All-cause mortality was 32% (18/56). Cardiovascular mortality was 28% (16/56). Septic shock in one patient and Ischemic brain stroke was the cause of death in the other patient. VA recurrence, poor left ventricular ejection fraction, and failed stellate ganglion blockade were associated with increased mortality. Procedure-related complications like transient bradycardia(16%), hematoma(14%), hoarseness of voice (10%), persistent ptosis(5%), and monoparesis(3.5%) were noted, all of which were resolved within two weeks of post-procedure. SGB helps to stabilize the hemodynamic status of the patients with electrical storm. It also provides time for

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