Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation for Prevention of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to examine the effect of cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) surgery on life threatening abnormal heart rhythms called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Subjects will be asked to participate in this research study if they have recurrent ventricular tachycardia (at least one ICD shock for ventricular tachycardia) and have undergone at least one catheter ablation procedure or have ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation that is not ablatable. The goal of this study is to determine whether cardiac sympathetic denervation can prevent these abnormal heart rhythms from occurring and therefore, prevent, ICD shocks which are not only painful, but have been shown to reduce quality of life and/or lead to depression, particularly in the period immediately after the shock.

Conditions

• Sudden Cardiac Death
• Ventricular Tachycardia
• Ventricular Fibrillation
• Cardiomyopathy

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation (CSD)

Cardiac sympathetic denervation is performed using an endoscopic procedure called VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic sympathectomy). The surgeon removes the lower half of the stellate ganglia in addition to the thoracic ganglia of T2 - T4 on both the right and left side. The VATS procedure provides a minimally invasive endoscopic approach that is safe and effective. The procedure can be completed in less than 45 minutes on each side.

DRUG

Routine Care

Anti-arrhythmic medications are continued for the duration of the study unless discontinued or adjusted to due to drug toxicity, intolerance, or ICD shock. All anti-arrhythmic medications (whether in the routine care or surgical arm) can be adjusted at the discretion of the treating physician.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oregon Health and Science University

  collaborator OTHER

• University of California, Los Angeles

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marmar Vaseghi, MD, PhD · University of California, Los Angeles

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-07-26

Primary Completion

2024-08-31

Completion

2024-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations