Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a leading cause of death and suffering in the Veteran population. Currently, ablation procedures are performed to destroy the diseased tissue that causes this problem. This study will test to see if an experimental strategy of only targeting regions of slow conduction without the induction of VT can improve the efficacy and safety of VT ablation. Once this study is completed, the investigators will know whether this ablation strategy could help increase the efficacy, safety and efficiency of ablation therapy of fatal heart rhythms.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 90 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Men and women \>18 years of age referred for clinically indicated VT ablation and experience monomorphic or polymorphic scar-based VT documented by telemetry, ICD interrogation, ECG or event monitoring.
* Scar-based VT is defined as VT in patients with structural heart disease (assessed with either abnormal nuclear perfusion imaging (\>5% defect), late gadolinium uptake on cardiac MRI, wall thinning \<10mm or calcified myocardium on cardiac CT, akinesis or hypokinesis on echocardiogram, presence of Q waves on ECG, history of myocardial infarct).
* Patients undergoing epicardial VT ablation and who undergo prophylactic percutaneous hemodynamic support devices will also be included.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients without structural heart disease will be excluded from the pri-mary analysis, but enrolled in a prospective registry
* Patients who are pregnant
* Presence of intracardiac thrombus
* active acute coronary ischemia with unrevascularized coronary artery disease (CAD \>70% stenosis)
* Active bacteremia
* Inaccessible ventricles due to dual mechanical valves
* Inability to tolerate and inability to tolerate anticoagulation during ablation and for at least 1 month after ablation
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Time to composite endpoint (VT recurrence, death, or acute hemodynamic decompensation)