Long-Term Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Bilateral Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in Patients With Refractory Arrhythmic Storm: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
BCSD is safe and effective for controlling arrhythmic events in refractory arrhythmic storm, significantly reducing ventricular arrhythmias during the first 6 months after the procedure and providing temporary stabilization for nearly 12 months with few adverse effects.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients undergoing stellate ganglion block (SGB) and bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (BCSD) for refractory electrical storm, single-centre tertiary hospital, April 2023 to September 202415 completed follow-up
- Participants
- 18 patients
- Exposure
- Ultrasound-guided percutaneous SGB and BCSD, baseline vs follow-up
- Outcome
- Change in sustained ventricular arrhythmias
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailssingle-centre, consecutive patients, BCSD: 2 conventional radiofrequency lesions followed by levobupivacaine infiltration
- Single-centre
- Consecutive patients
- BCSD: 2 conventional radiofrequency lesions followed by levobupivacaine infiltration
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Sustained ventricular arrhythmias and implanted device shocks/ablations
Baseline
4
median · IQR 2–7.5
3 months
0
median · IQR 0–0.5
12 months
1.5
median · IQR 0–3
3 months vs Baseline: P < 0.01 · 12 months vs Baseline: P = 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Overall survival · 12 months
- 12-month overall survival rate
- 58%
Hospitalizations for arrhythmic storm · during follow-up
- Hospitalizations for arrhythmic storm
- 0
Heart transplantation
- Patients who underwent heart transplantation
- 27%
Overall mortality
- Overall mortality rate
- 33%
- All deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease progression
Safety
- Transient Horner syndrome
- 73%
- Prolonged ptosis resolving within 2 weeks without sequelae (patients)
- 1
Original publication
Long-Term Outcomes of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Bilateral Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in Patients With Refractory Arrhythmic Storm: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. Published 1 September 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →