title: Left thoracoscopic sympathectomy for cardiac denervation in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We reported the outcomes of a single-institution experience using video-assisted thoracoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation as an adjunctive therapeutic technique in pediatric and young adult patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective clinical review of all patients who underwent left cardiac sympathetic denervation by means of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at our institution. From August 2000 to December 2011, 24 patients (13 with long QT syndrome, 9 with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, and 2 with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia) were identified from the cardiology database and surgical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no intraoperative complications. The median postoperative length of stay was 2 days (range, 1-32 days). There were no major perioperative complications. Longer-term follow-up was available in 22 of 24 patients at a median follow-up of 28 months (range, 4-131 months). Sixteen (73%) of the 22 patients experienced a marked reduction in their arrhythmia burden, with 12 (55%) becoming completely arrhythmia free after sympathectomy. Six (27%) of the patients were nonresponsive to treatment; each had persistent symptoms at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Video-assisted thoracoscopic left cardiac sympathetic denervation can be safely and effectively performed in most patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. This minimally invasive procedure is a promising adjunctive therapeutic option that achieves a beneficial response in most symptomatic patients. These results support the inclusion of thoracoscopic cardiac sympathetic denervation among the treatment armamentarium in all patients with ventricular arrhythmias refractive to conventional medical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
authors.forename: Sophie C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hofferberth
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cecchin
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loberman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass. Electronic address: francis.fynn-thompson@cardio.chboston.org.
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fynn-Thompson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001900:Boston; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013562:Sympathectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D000098850:Polymorphic Catecholaminergic Ventricular Tachycardia
keywords: 20; 24; 28; CPVT; ICD; IVT; JLNS; Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome; LCSD; LQTS; VATS; VF; VT; catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; idiopathic ventricular tachycardia; implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; left cardiac sympathetic denervation; long QT syndrome; ventricular fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia; video-assisted thoracoscopic