Chronic recurrent right and left ventricular tachycardia: Comparison of clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic findings

Twenty-seven patients with chronic recurrent ventricular tachycardia were judged to have either left or right ventricular tachycardia on the basis of electrocardiographic QRS configuration during the tachycardia. Clinical, hemodynamic and angiographic evaluation was performed. The 15 patients who had left ventricular tachycardia were older (mean age 43 years) and predominantly male (male/female ratio 10:5), and all (100 percent) had diagnosable organic heart disease. The 12 patients who had right ventricular tachycardia were younger (mean age 32 years) and mostly female ( male female ratio, 4:8), and only three (25 percent) had diagnosable organic heart disease. Patients with left ventricular tachycardia had lower cardiac output and a much greater prevalence of abnormal left ventricular and coronary angiograms than patients with right ventricular tachycardia. Patients with left ventricular tachycardia were followed up for an average of 38 months (one patient lost to follow-up); three deaths occurred. Patients with right ventricular tachycardia were followed up for 35 months (two patients lost to follow-up); none died. Grouping of patients with chronic recurrent ventricular tachycardia into those with left or right ventricular tachycardia appears to be useful. The latter condition appears to be less serious.