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

Primary Endo- and Epicardial vs. Endocardial Ablation of Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Underlying Cardiac Disease (VTeee)

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Ventricular Tachycardia
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Strategy 1 - endocardial ablation; Procedure: Strategy 2 - endocardial and epicardial ablation

Detailed Description

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). These arrhythmia often causes symptoms like dizziness, shortness of breath, angina or even cardiogenic shock. Large trials showed that VTs are associated with a 3.4 to 5fold increase in mortality even if each episode was successfully terminated by an ICD. Initially most patients are treated with antiarrhythmics. If these drugs are ineffective or not tolerated because of side effects catheter ablation (obliteration of cardiac tissue by radiofrequency) is the only alternative therapy.

The mechanism of most VTs are reentry circuits which are typically found in areas of scar in the left or right chamber. These scar areas may be located in the inner layer of the myocardium (endocardial), in the outer layer (epicardial) or in all layers of the heart muscle (transmural). The standard ablation procedure is carried out from endocardial only. This means catheters introduced through the femoral veins or arteries are placed in the right or left ventricle. 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.

Patients are eligible if they show documented VT on the basis of an underlying cardiac disease and a therapy with antiarrhythmics was ineffective or not tolerated. In terms of this study cardiac disease means CAD, DCM and ARVC. All patients have to be treated with an ICD. Patients are not eligible if VT is not documented, if there is no structural heart disease, if they have a mechanical aortic valve or a pacemaker/ICD with epicardial leads implanted or if a pericardial puncture must not be done.

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.

In case of strategy 1 ablation catheters are placed in the right, left or both ventricles through the femoral veins/arteries. VT is induced by programmed stimulation and then analysed. By means of 3D-electroanatomical mapping the endocardial surface is reconstructed. The scar areas are marked and in a second step obliterated.

In case of strategy 2 in addition to the endocardial access via femoral veins/arteries a pericardial puncture is performed to get access to the epicardial space. This allows placement of ablation catheters on the epicardial surface of the heart. VT is induced and analysed from endo- and epicardial. In addition to strategy 1 a 3D-reconstruction of the epicardial surface is made and scar areas are marked like from endocardial. In a first step endocardial ablation is performed. Thereafter changes in epicardial scar areas are analyzed. In case of still inducible VT after endocardial ablation epicardial ablation is performed as a second step. The success of strategy 1 and 2 is always checked by programmed ventricular stimulation.

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 at 3, 6 and 12 months after the ablation procedure. Recurrence of VT is monitored by ICD 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 40
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Joerg Lauschke, Dr.; Phone Number: 0049-381-494-7797; Email: joerg.lauschke@uni-rostock.de
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Dietmar Baensch, Prof. Dr.; Phone Number: 0049-381-494-7797; Email: dietmar.baensch@med.uni-rostock.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
    • Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, 18057
      • Recruiting
      • University Hospital of Rostock
      • Contact: Joerg Lauschke, Dr. med.; Phone Number: 0049-381-494-7797; Email: joerg.lauschke@uni-rostock.de
      • Principal Investigator: Dietmar Baensch, Prof. Dr.
      • Sub-Investigator: Ralph Schneider, Dr.
      • Sub-Investigator: Joerg Lauschke, Dr.
      • Sub-Investigator: Wolfgang Voss, Dr.
      • Sub-Investigator: Imke Wendig, Dr.

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• structural heart disease (CAD, DCM, ARVC)
• ICD already implanted
• documented ventricular tachycardia
• patient is able to give informed consent
• VT ablation because of vital indication

Exclusion Criteria:

• VT without structural cardiac disease
• VT not documented
• patient is not able to give informed consent
• contraindication for pericardial puncture
• mechanical aortic valve
• pacemaker or ICD with an epicardial lead

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Strategy 1- endocardial ablation; VT substrate mapping and VT ablation are done only from endocardial.	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.
Active Comparator: Strategy 2 - endocardial and epicardial ablation; VT substrate mapping and ablation are done from endocardial and epicardial.	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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
recurrence of any VT	Recurrence of any VT is measured by ICD interrogation, which is routinely done at the following follow-up visits: 3, 6 and 12 months after the date of the VT ablation procedure. In case of emergency (e.g. incessant VT, VT storm, resuscitation due to ventricular fibrillation) an additional ICD interrogation is done at admission to hospital.	up to 12 months after the date of VT ablation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
percentage of VT substrates which can only be abolished by epicardial ablation	This secondary outcome measure is evaluated only once during the hospital stay at the date of the VT ablation procedure. The average time of hospital stay for VT ablation is estimated to 3 to 5 days.	date of VT ablation - up to 3 to 5 days
12 lead ECG features typical for epicardial VT substrates	This secondary outcome measure is evaluated only once during the hospital stay at the date of the VT ablation procedure. The average time of hospital stay for VT ablation is estimated to 3 to 5 days.	date of VT ablation up to 3 to 5 days
percentage of epicardial VT substrates referred to the underlying cardiac disease	This secondary outcome measure is evaluated only once during the hospital stay at the date of the VT ablation procedure. The average time of hospital stay for VT ablation is estimated to 3 to 5 days.	date of VT ablation - up to 3 to 5 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Rostock
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Dietmar Baensch, Prof. Dr., University Hospital of Rostock, Dept. of Cardiology

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): November 1, 2014
• Study Completion (Anticipated): November 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 11, 2013
• First Posted (Estimate): January 14, 2013

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): January 30, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 29, 2014
• Last Verified: January 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ventricular tachycardia; endocardial ablation; epicardial ablation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiac Conduction System Disease; Heart Diseases; Tachycardia; Tachycardia, Ventricular
• Other Study ID Numbers: A 2012-0125