OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy and safety of the coronary interventional therapy to prevent electrical storm (ES) in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD) but without myocardial infarction or ischemic cardiomyopathy.

METHODSCoronary angiography and stent implantation were performed in CAD patients with ES as major symptom, according to the standardized methods. Holter Electrocardiography was recorded regularly during follow-up.

RESULTSSix patients, five male and one female, with mean age of 49.5 +/- 9.1 year-old, were hospitalized. In 2 patients with repetitive syncope, multiple episodes of ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation (VF) were documented by Holter recording. One patient developed VF during exercise test. Three patients experienced chest pain and multiple episodes of cardiac arrest. Before procedure, averaged 16.5 +/- 5.3 episodes of syncope or VF were documented in 6 patients. Coronary angiography revealed severe one or multi-vessel diseases. Total 8 stents, including 3 drug-eluting stents, were implanted in 6 patients. Symptom, ST-T changes and ES disappeared after coronary stenting. During 4 month to 6.5 year follow-up (mean 47.7 +/- 30.7 months), ES was not documented, no appropriated shock occurred in patients with implantable defibrillator for 6.5 years.

CONCLUSIONIn CAD patients without myocardial infarction, coronary stenting can relieve the ischemic substrate of ES, hence prevents sudden death effectively.