Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Refractory Electrical Storm After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Authors

Brody Wehman, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Michael Mazzeffi, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Robert Chow, University of Maryland School of Medicine
A. Claire Watkins, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Brittany Aicher, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Si Pham, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Whitney Burrows, University of Maryland School of Medicine
Bradley Taylor, University of Maryland School of Medicine

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-1-2018

Journal

Annals of Thoracic Surgery

Volume

105

Issue

3

DOI

10.1016/j.athoracsur.2017.10.005

Abstract

We report a patient with refractory electrical storm after coronary artery bypass grafting who was successfully treated with thoracoscopic sympathectomy. Cardiac arrest with ventricular tachycardia occurred on postoperative day 2, and the patient required emergency support with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia prevented cardiac recovery and weaning from mechanical circulatory support. A percutaneous left stellate ganglion block initially demonstrated successful prevention of ventricular tachycardia, and definitive sympathetic denervation was achieved by a left thoracoscopic sympathectomy. The patient remained in normal sinus rhythm and gained recovery of baseline ventricular function, permitting successful decannulation and weaning of inotropic support.

APA Citation

Wehman, B., Mazzeffi, M., Chow, R., Watkins, A., Aicher, B., Pham, S., Burrows, W., & Taylor, B. (2018). Thoracoscopic Sympathectomy for Refractory Electrical Storm After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, 105 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2017.10.005