Characterization of skin sympathetic nerve activity in patients undergoing ablation of ventricular tachycardia

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a common consequence of both ischemic and non-ischemic heart diseases, often leading to sudden cardiac death. Enhanced sympathetic nerve activity has been implicated in the initiation of VT. In our previous study, we demonstrated the association of skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA) with VT clusters and recurrent VT. 1 Zhang P. Liang J.J. Cai C. et al. Characterization of skin sympathetic nerve activity in patients with cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmia. Heart Rhythm. 2019; 16: 1669-1675 Google Scholar While radiofrequency catheter ablation targeting VT origin or substrates may inadvertently damage sympathetic nerve axons and impact on stellate ganglion (SG) neurons, the effect of catheter ablation on SKNA in patients with VT has not been well studied.