Anesthetic Management in Patients Undergoing Epicardial Ablation

Epicardial catheter ablation is often necessary for the successful treatment of scar-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT), especially in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) where scarring is more extensive on the mid-myocardial or epicardial surface. Because epicardial mapping can be painful and patient movement can limit mapping and safe epicardial access, a common strategy for these patients is general anesthesia.