• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.220-224
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• 2015

A patient presented with loss of consciousness and conversion. During an exercise test, catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) resulted in cardiac arrest. He started taking medication (a beta-blocker and flecainide) and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was inserted, but the ventricular tachycardia did not resolve. Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) was then performed under general anesthesia, and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day without complications. One month after the operation, no shock had been administered by the ICD, and an exercise stress test did not induce ventricular tachycardia. Although beta- blockers are the gold standard of therapy in patients with CPVT, thoracoscopic LCSD is safe and can be an effective alternative treatment option for patients with intractable CPVT.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.414-419
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• 2023

Background: The recurrence of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in patients who have already undergone treatment with antiarrhythmic medication, catheter ablation, and the insertion of implantable cardioverter defibrillators is not uncommon. Recent studies have shown that bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (BCSD) effectively treats VAs. However, only a limited number of studies have confirmed the safety of BCSD as a viable therapeutic option for VAs. Methods: This single-center study included 10 patients, who had a median age of 54 years (interquartile range [IQR], 45-65 years) and a median ejection fraction of 58.5% (IQR, 56.2%-60.8%), with VAs who underwent video-assisted BCSD. BCSD was executed as a single-stage surgery for 8 patients, while the remaining 2 patients initially underwent left cardiac sympathetic denervation followed by right cardiac sympathetic denervation. We evaluated postoperative complications, the duration of hospital stays, and VA-related symptoms before and after surgery. Results: The median hospital stay after surgery was 2 days (IQR, 2-3 days). The median surgical time for BCSD was 113 minutes (IQR, 104-126 minutes). No significant complications occurred during hospitalization or after discharge. During the median follow-up period of 13.5 months (IQR, 10.5-28.0 months) from surgery, no VA-related symptoms were observed in 70% of patients. Conclusion: The benefits of a short postoperative hospitalization and negligible complications make BCSD a safe, alternative therapeutic option for patients suffering from refractory VAs.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.115-118
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• 2000

Stellate ganglion block is most commonly used in pain clinic because it is an easy procedure and it has broad indications reported that Angina pectoris, tachyarrhythmia and long QT syndrome (LQTS) are indicated. LQTS is a disorder of the abnormalities of cardiac sympathetic innervation and of myocardial repolarization. LQTS is characterized by marked prolongation of the QT interval, often manifestating as syncope, seizures, or sudden death due to polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia known as torsades de pointes. Treatment of symptomatic patients usually begin with beta blocker. The elective treatment of LQTS patients unresponsive to beta blocker is the left cardiac sympathetic denervation. We report a case of LQTS patient who had received stellate ganglion block.