Endo- and Epicardial vs. Endocardial Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Cardiac Disease

Summary

A significant portion of patients with cardiac diseases like coronary artery disease (CAD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) develops ventricular tachycardia (VT). The standard ablation procedure is carried out from endocardial only. In 30% of patients treated this way a successful ablation is not possible. In these cases the scar areas are mostly located in the outer layer of the myocardium. Ablation is feasible only if the catheter is placed in the epicardial space to reach the surface of the heart muscle. In the past this type of ablation was performed as a second procedure in case of recurrent VTs after unsuccessful endocardial ablation.

This prospective randomized trial compares the standard ablation procedure (endocardial ablation only) with a new strategy. This means in a single procedure the scar areas responsible for VT are marked and obliterated from endocardial as well as from epicardial. The primary endpoint is recurrence of VT after endo- and epicardial vs. endocardial ablation only.

40 patients will be enrolled. They will be randomized 1:1 in the study arms "strategy 1" which is standard endocardial ablation and "strategy 2" which is endo- and epicardial ablation.

At least 12 months are planned for enrollment. The study is closed if the patient last enrolled has completed the 12-months-follow up. Follow up visits are scheduled 3, 6 and 12 months after the ablation procedure. Recurrence of VT is monitored by ICD (implanted cardioverter defibrillator) interrogation.

Both ablation strategies are well established and conducted with standard equipment. The methodology of this study does not contain any experimental approaches. The standard insurance coverage of the hospital is guaranteed for all enrolled patients.

Conditions

• Ventricular Tachycardia

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Strategy 1 - endocardial ablation

VT substrate mapping and VT ablation are done only from endocardial. Therefore the catheters are introduced through the femoral veins/arteries. For mapping and ablation a 3,5 mm irrigated tip catheter (Navistar Thermocool, Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) will be used.

PROCEDURE

Strategy 2 - endocardial and epicardial ablation

VT substrate mapping and VT ablation are done from endocardial and epicardial. Therefore the catheters are introduced through the femoral veins/arteries and into the pericardial space via a pericardial puncture. After endocardial and epicardial mapping, ablation is done from endocardial. In case of an ineffective endocardial ablation and an epicardial substrate an epicardial ablation is done. For mapping and ablation from endo- and epicardial a 3,5 mm irrigated tip catheter (Navistar Thermocool, Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) will be used.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Rostock

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dietmar Baensch, Prof. Dr. · University Hospital of Rostock, Dept. of Cardiology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2012-11-30

Primary Completion

2014-11-30

Completion

2014-11-30

Countries

• Germany

Study Locations