@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]