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Cardiac radiation (SBRT) for VT
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (7)Comment receiving replies
It's not radiation. It's 'radio frequency', or RF ablation. This is the most common form of ablation for tachyarrhythmias, although it is quickly being supplanted by the more modern, and somewhat less risky PFA (pulsed field ablation). Note one important factor: PFA currently has no greater probability of success, across electrophysiologists who use that techniques, over RF. While this may be disappointing, remember that it's still a 'young' process and the profession is getting wiser and more skilled with it every week. I wouldn't be surprised to read a research paper in about 12 months saying it now enjoys a modestly superior success rate over RF ablation. However, I also wouldn't be surprised to learn that there is still no statistically significant difference between the two forms, and the reason is that about 85-90% of success is due to the skill and the experience of the EP doing the procedure. We tell this to people over at affibers.org all the time....hunt down the very best EP in your region, fly if you must, one who routinely does 'complex cases' of AF or SVT.
You actually said 'ventricular tachycardia.' I hasten to add that I'm not even a doctor, so I don't know all there is to know about cardiac arrhythmias. However, VT is often dangerous if it goes on very long, say a couple of hours or longer. Normally you would be admitted if you went to an ER or called an ambulance to get to one if you presented with real VT. So, I'm just wanting to be certain that it really is what you heard, and not the much more common, and many times less concerning, SVT (supra-ventricular tachycardia). Then again, sometimes VT is paroxysmal in that it comes on and then goes again inside of a few minutes, in which case it's more of an annoyance.
Again, I am in no way a health care expert, so I'm trying to help, but I would also like to be clear of the terms you are using.
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@gloaming thanks for your feedback. SBRT is indeed radiation. Below is the AI summary:
Cardiac radiation therapy for ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a non-invasive treatment using Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) to precisely deliver high-dose radiation to the specific heart tissue causing the arrhythmia. This technique, also called cardiac radioablation, is often used for patients with refractory VT who cannot be successfully treated with other methods like medication or catheter ablation. The procedure typically involves mapping the heart's electrical activity, creating a 3D map, and then delivering the radiation in a single, short session without anesthesia. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
How it works
• Mapping: Doctors create detailed 3D maps of the heart using a combination of imaging like CT and MRI, and electrical mapping from an EKG or electrophysiology study. This helps precisely locate the origin of the abnormal electrical signals causing the VT. [2, 6, 7]
• Targeting: The radiation team uses the map to plan the radiation delivery, aiming the beams directly at the identified tissue. [2, 6]
• Treatment: A linear accelerator delivers a high-dose of radiation to the targeted area, often in a single session that can take less than 10 minutes. The radiation damages the abnormal cells, which either ablates them or "reprograms" them so they no longer cause the arrhythmia. [2, 3, 6, 8]
• Recovery: The procedure does not require hospitalization or anesthesia, allowing patients to go home afterward. [6]
Why it is used
• Alternative for refractory VT: It is an option for patients with VT that is resistant to standard treatments like anti-arrhythmic medications and catheter ablation. [1, 4, 5]
• Non-invasive: It is a non-invasive alternative to catheter ablation, which can be harmful for some patients. [1, 4]
• Palliative care: It can be used to improve quality of life by reducing painful shocks from implantable defibrillators and decreasing the need for anti-arrhythmic drugs. [4, 5, 9]
Important considerations
• Experimental nature: While promising, cardiac radiation therapy is still considered an experimental treatment and its long-term safety and effectiveness are still being studied. [5, 8]
• Candidate selection: It is generally reserved for patients who have not responded to other therapies. [5, 8]
• Multidisciplinary approach: Successful treatment requires close collaboration between a cardiac team, a cardiac imaging team, and a radiation therapy team. [1]