The Effect of Volatile Versus Total Intravenous Anaesthesia (TIVA) on the Inducibility of Tachyarrhythmias During Ventricluar Tachycardia (VT) Ablation Procedures

Volatile group: Continuous inhaled sevoflurane (titrated to adequate end-tidal concentrations) for maintenance of general anaesthesia for at least the duration of the VT induction (5-10 minutes). Age-based MAC values >0.6 will generally be considered adequate. However, the required level will be titrated based on processed EEG-monitoring. TIVA group: Continuous intravenous propofol (using a target-controlled infusion protocol) for maintenance of general anaesthesia for at least the duration of the VT induction. Using a pre-programmed Schnider model, propofol infusion will generally be aiming for an effect site concentration between 2 and 5 mcg/ml. The required level will be titrated based on processed EEG-monitoring. As part of the cross-over design, patients will be switched from one type of medication to the other during the procedure, after the first VT induction. There will be a 30-minute wash out period in between. At least one of the maintenance medication will be continuously administered at any point in time to keep the patient anaesthetised. MAC values, infusion rates and processed EEG values (BIS) will be collected during the VT inductions. The total duration of the measurements (including wash out) will be around 45 minutes. The duration of the entire general anaesthetic depends on the duration of the VT ablation procedure, but typically varies between 2 and 6 hours.