Methods for the diagnosis and ablation treatment of ventricular tachycardia.

摘要

A closed-heart method for treating ventricular tachycardia in a myocardial infarct patient afflicted with ventricular tachycardia is disclosed. The method comprises, first, defining a thin layer of spared myocardial tissue positioned between the myocardial infarct scar tissue and the inner surface of the myocardium (the endocardium) of the patient, and then ablating the thin layer of spared myocardial tissue by a closed-heart procedure with an ablation catheter. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed, Also disclosed is a method for prognosing the likelihood of ventricular tachycardia occuring in a myocardial infarct patient not previously diagnosed as afflicted with ventricular tachycardia. The method comprises detecting a thin layer of spared myocardial tissue positioned between the myocardial infarct scar tissue and the inner surface of the myocardium (the endocardium) in the patient.