Heart Podcast Therapies for ventricular tachycardia
Dec 16, 2025
Dr. John Sapp, a cardiac electrophysiologist and professor at Dalhousie University, dives deep into the complexities of ventricular tachycardia (VT). He explains the transformation of VT from a sudden death threat to a manageable condition with ICDs. The conversation covers the re-entry mechanisms that cause VT, the benefits and risks of antiarrhythmic drugs, and the evolution of VT ablation techniques. Emerging technologies like larger-footprint catheters showcase the future of treatment, while Sapp shares insights on success rates and increasing procedure complexities.
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VT As A Chronic Disease
- Ventricular tachycardia (VT) has become a chronic disease thanks to implantable defibrillators that prevent sudden death.
- Defibrillators transformed invisible sudden deaths into a treated population living with recurrent VT issues.
Scar Channels Drive Re-Entry VT
- The commonest VT mechanism in ischemic cardiomyopathy is re-entry via channels in scar tissue.
- Surviving myocardial channels within scars can permit slow conduction and form re-entrant circuits.
Act Promptly On VT Symptoms
- Recognize symptoms: palpitations, lightheadedness, syncope, or shocks from an ICD require urgent evaluation.
- Treat clustered arrhythmias aggressively because multiple events often signify higher risk.