Treatment of recurrent ventricular tachycardia by patient-activated radiofrequency ventricular stimulation.

A new pacing technique may benefit selected patients with drug-resistant, chronic, recurrent ventricular tachycardia. This report describes two patients treated effectively with permanently implanted, patient-activated, radiofrequency ventricular stimulators. Both used the device successfully for repeated termination of episodic, sustained ventricular tachycardias. Optimal utilization of this technique requires extensive prior electrophysiologic assessment and drug trials, does not supplant continued drug therapy, and is not without potential hazard.