title: Ganglionic plexus ablation during pulmonary vein isolation--predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias?
abstract: Catheter ablation is increasingly used to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Ablation of ganglionic plexi is often performed to reduce vagal innervation and has been shown to confer a better long-term outcome in terms of AF recurrence. We report a case of a patient having AF ablation with a profound vagal response, suggesting ganglionic plexus ablation, who subsequently developed ventricular fibrillation after programmed ventricular stimulation. Reduced vagal modulation is known to predispose to ventricular arrhythmias and vagal denervation following AF ablation may predispose to ventricular arrhythmias and requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Coventry, Clifford Bridge Rd, Coventry CV2 2DX, UK. faizel.osman@btinternet.com
authors.forename: Faizel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Jiun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuan
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeilan
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: G Andre
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ng