Surgical Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation for Ventricular Arrhythmias: A Systematic Review

Cardiac neuromodulation for ventricular arrhythmias: Current state and future perspectives. A comprehensive review

Electrical storm represents an urgent challenge in electrophysiology. Despite the use of antiarrhythmic medications and catheter ablation, refractory ventricular arrhythmias may persist, prompting the use of neuromodulation. This approach has evolved over the years, facing initial challenges owing to the intricacies of the autonomic nervous system. Animal studies have significantly enhanced our understanding of this system, paving the way for human studies on sympathetic modulation, which gained momentum in the early 2000s and expanded notably in cardiology in the 2010s. Presently, a variety of techniques coexist and offer diverse alternatives. Additionally, there are promising avenues for development that are primarily explored in animal models. This review aims to shed light on the diverse approaches currently available in this field.

Cardiac sympathetic denervation for untreatable ventricular tachycardia in structural heart disease. Strengths and pitfalls of evolving surgical techniques

Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) is a valuable option in the setting of refractory ventricular arrhythmias in patient with structural heart disease. Since the procedure was introduced for non structural heart disease patients the techniques evolved and were modified to be adopted in several settings. In this state-of-the-art article we revised different techniques, their rationale, strengths, and pitfalls.

Thoracic autonomic nervous system surgery current application-a survey among members of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Background

Thoracic autonomic nervous system surgery is mainly used for hyperhidrosis/facial flushing, whereas cardiac and vascular indications are limited. The literature remains controversial regarding the correct indications and surgical technique, with the lack of homogeneous data being a major limitation. We designed a survey to investigate current practice among members of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS).

Methods

A 29-question ad hoc questionnaire was available to all ESTS members from December 2022 to February 2023. It included questions on demographics, indications, preoperative evaluation, technique, complications and follow-up. A descriptive analysis of the data is presented.

Results

The response rate was 7% and 121 of 123 valid responses were analysed. Sympathetic surgery was performed for hyperhidrosis/facial flushing, cardiac and vascular disease in 99%, 29% and 29% of respondents respectively. Palmar hyperhidrosis was the most common, followed by axillary, facial flushing and craniofacial hyperhidrosis. Catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia was more common than long QT syndrome and Raynaud's over Buerger's disease. Data analysis showed that members preferred nerve cutting to clipping (66%, 64% and 58% for hyperhidrosis/facial flushing, cardiac and vascular disease respectively). Preference for the target level of nerve block varied significantly depending on the condition addressed. For most responders (65%), severe compensatory sweating was an adverse event, occurring in less than 10% of treated cases. Only 52% used a database for follow-up.

Conclusions

Current practice in sympathetic surgery in ESTS responders is consistent with the available evidence, although it is characterized by great heterogeneity in almost all aspects. A database could help to standardize patient selection, surgical techniques and follow-up, and provide the basis for future multi-institutional trials.

Perioperative and long-term outcomes of bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmias

BACKGROUND

Bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) surgery shows potential in managing ventricular tachycardia (VT), thereby reducing arrhythmic burden. In this setting, the scarcity of studies addressing both perioperative and long-term outcomes creates a substantial gap in the optimal management of patients with multiple comorbidities and limited treatment options. This observational study aimed to assess the medical comorbidities, as well as the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent CSD for VT refractory to catheter ablation and medical therapy at a referral tertiary teaching hospital.

MATERIALS

We retrospectively analyzed data of all patients with VT who underwent bilateral CSD-VAT surgery at a single center. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to analyze the survival rates at 1-year and 2-years following the procedure.

RESULTS

Ten consecutive patients were unrolled between August 2014 and March 2024. Bilateral CSD-VAT surgery was successfully performed in all patients. Pre-operative ejection fraction was 33 % (26-41). Two patients (22 %) suffered cardiogenic shock and 1 vasoplegia. Half (50 %) of the patients necessitated inotrope/vasopressor support and 1 an intra-aortic balloon pump. Median hospital stay was 12 (9-19) days. Three (33 %) patients required postoperative ICU admission. All patients were alive upon hospital discharge. Neither major surgical complications nor complications typically associated with VAT-CSD (e.g., Horner's syndrome) were observed. The 1-year survival was 80 % while the survival at 24 months was 60 %.

CONCLUSIONS

CSD-VAT is a feasible rescue treatment in patients with refractory VT and is associated with limited intra- and postoperative complications alongside an acceptable long-term survival rate.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Stellate Ganglion Block in the Treatment of Symptoms from Long COVID-19: A Pilot Study

Purpose

Pilot study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of stellate ganglion blocks in the treatment of symptoms related to long COVID infection.

Materials and Methods

A total of 17 patients who underwent stellate ganglion block for the treatment of their long COVID symptoms were included. COMPASS-31, GAD-7, PCL-5, and Fatigue Severity Score (FSS) pre and post intervention surveys and data on baseline heartrate and post- block heart rate recorded in the EMR.

Results

A total of 94% of patients reported moderate-to-severe autonomic dysfunction pre-procedure as measured by COMPASS-31. All patients reported some degree of symptomatic improvement from the block. Specifically, patients had significantly lower FSS scores (P = 0.002) and heart rate post-procedure (P = 0.008). Although the decrease in PCL-5 scores after the procedure was clinically meaningful, this change was not statistically significant (P = 0.159). No significant difference was found in pre and post procedure GAD-7 scores (P = 0.101).

Conclusions

Stellate ganglion block is a safe, low-risk, minimally invasive, and effective procedure in the treatment of symptoms for long COVID. It should be evaluated as an adjunctive treatment of select patients in this population.

Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation as a Treatment for Ventricular Arrhythmias Refractory to Conventional Treatment: A Case Series

Background

Ventricular arrhythmias are a leading cause of sudden death. The objective of this study was to characterise the results of patients with ventricular arrhythmias refractory to standard medical management, undergoing Video-assisted thoracoscopic cardiac sympathetic denervation (VAT-CSD) during 2012-2022 in Cali, Colombia.

Methods

This was an observational retrospective study, using the Institutional General Thoracic Surgery Database for patient identification and retrospectively reviewing the clinical charts for data description and analysis.

Results

Clinical records of 19 patients who underwent VAT-CSD for ventricular arrhythmia were analysed. The patients were predominantly male (73.7%) with an mean age of 62 years. Ischaemic heart disease was the main underlying condition (52.6%); all individuals had a diagnosis of heart failure, with comorbidities such as hypertension (63.1%), acute MI (57.8%) and diabetes (26.3%) also present. The procedure was performed bilaterally in 89.4% of cases and was successful with minimal perioperative complications. Postoperative follow-up showed improvement in symptoms, including a significant reduction in the number of ICD shocks and emergency department visits.

Conclusion

VAT-CSD is a viable, safe and palliative therapeutic option for patients with ventricular arrhythmias who have not responded to conventional treatments, achieving a significant decrease in symptoms with low mortality and perioperative complications.

Successful management of near-incessant bidirectional ventricular tachycardia in one-year-old child with COVID-19 infection: a case report

Background

The COVID-19 is an infectious disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 are reported more often, from inflammatory cardiac diseases to acute coronary syndromes, thromboembolic events and arrhythmias. Sometimes, these arrhythmias may be life threatening and require urgent intervention.

Case summary

This is a case of one-year-old boy, who was referred to our hospital because of premature ventricular complexes on ECG. The child had genetic chimerism with a karyotype of 46XY(12)/46XX(3) and small patent ductus arteriosus. We observed non-sustained episodes of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24 h Holter monitor, which increased over time and caused multiple planned and urgent shocks, despite antiarrhythmic drugs and deep sedation and intubation. Patient was tested positive for COVID-19 using PCR. After thorough echocardiographic testing and a negative genetic analysis for arrhythmogenic disorders he was diagnosed with COVID-19 associated ventricular tachycardia, taking into account that he also developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Further, a significant decrease of ventricular activity was observed, which allowed us to implant a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Soon after the implantation the storm of ventricular tachycardia restarted with multiple shocks of the device. This time left partial thoracic sympathectomy was performed and the patient didn't have ICD shocks any more.

Discussion

COVID-19 infection can be associated with significant arrhythmias, including fatal ventricular arrhythmias also in children. Left partial thoracic sympathectomy can be a helpful option in patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia and multiple ICD shocks, in whom antiarrhythmic treatment or VT ablation is useless or not available.

VATS cardiac sympathetic denervation for ventricular arrhythmias: initial experience in a tertiary care centre

Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) is a useful therapeutic option for patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) refractory to anti-arrhythmic agents and/or catheter ablation. However, the experience is mostly limited to non-structural heart disease in paediatric patients. The advent of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with its reduced morbidity has encouraged the use of VATS CSD in patients with structural heart disease. In this series, we report the surgical and cardiac outcomes of VATS-guided CSD in four patients who presented with electrical storm in the setting of different structural cardiomyopathies. Four patients underwent VATS-guided CSD at our centre during the period 2019-2021 after failure of conventional medical and/or ablative treatment for the management of refractory VAs. All four patients presented with electrical storm with different cardiomyopathies including ischaemic (post-acute myocardial infarction) and non-ischaemic aetiologies (sarcoidosis, non-specific right ventricular cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy). A combined total of 349 implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks were registered in the 4 weeks preceding the procedure with mean shocks of 87 per patient. All four patients successfully underwent CSD through the VATS approach with no operative mortality or any major surgical morbidity. All patients had resolution of electrical storms with 75% of patients remaining free of ICD shocks at a mean follow-up of 14.87 months. One patient who remained free of ICD shocks and recurrent VAs died at 23 months after the procedure due to progressive heart failure and complications. VATS CSD is a safe and effective complementary therapeutic modality in patients with life-threatening refractory VAs and electrical storms irrespective of the underlying substrate.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-022-01361-y.