Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial for Effect of Stellate Ganglion Block in Medically Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia

Overview

The investigators will compare the effects of PSGB(percutaneous stellate ganglion block) in patients with recurrent sustained VT/VF in spite of appropriate medical therapy and cardio-version/ defibrillation after correction of underlying correctable factors with those without PSGB by prospective randomized trail. PSGB will be performed every 3 days by anesthesiology specialist after cardiologist's request, until the stabilization of VT/VF. We will compare the frequency and episode number of VT/VF, procedure related complication, acute and long-term mortality.

Recurrent ventricular tachycardia(VT)/ fibrillation(VF) increases mortality, especially in patients with structural heart disease. It has been reported that cardiac sympathectomy reduces VT/VF episodes in patients with complex VT, long QT syndrome, catecholaminergic polymorphic VT, or myocarditis. However, cardiac sympathectomy operation is hard to conduct in patients with hemodynamically unstable recurrent VT/VF or electrical storm. Therefore, we hypothesized that bed-side percutaneous stellate ganglion block (PSGB) reduces VT/VF episodes and mortality in patients with repetitive VT/VF who are properly managed with optimal medical therapies.

Conditions