title: Efficacy of bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy in a patient with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
abstract: A 27-year-old woman with frequent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks related to catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) experienced aborted sudden death due to incessant polymorphic VT despite the administration of beta-blockers, verapamil, and flecainide. Catheter ablation failed to suppress the polymorphic VT. Based on the temporary efficacy of the local anesthetic administered at the left and right cervical sympathetic nerves to suppress VT under an isoproterenol infusion, stepwise, bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy was performed. Postoperatively, no further VT or syncopal episodes were documented under ICD telemetry. Bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy may be an alternative for patients with drug-refractory catecholaminergic polymorphic VT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, 520 Saisho-ko, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, 520 Saisho-ko, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, 520 Saisho-ko, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: Kiminobu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, 520 Saisho-ko, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teranishi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, 520 Saisho-ko, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: Kosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoki
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, 520 Saisho-ko, Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimane
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kinki University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Himeji Cardiovascular Center, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maniwa
keywords: Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator; Thoracoscopic bilateral sympathectomy