title: Video-assisted thoracoscopy to treat atrial tachycardia arising from left atrial appendage.
abstract: A 17-year-old male with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy presented with persistent, drug-resistant atrial tachycardia (AT). An electrophysiological study suggested focal abnormal automaticity, and localized the AT origin to the left atrial appendage. Radiofrequency catheter ablation at the site of the earliest endocardial activation during AT failed. A minimally invasive, video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) atrial appendectomy terminated the AT and restored left ventricular contractility. The patient remained free of AT and normal left ventricular function was maintained over a 24-month follow-up period. To our knowledge, we are the first to use VAT atrial appendectomy to treat focal AT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ajiro
authors.forename: Morio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shoda
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Nobuhisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hagiwara
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurosawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasanuki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020517:Atrial Appendage / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left