Key result
Combined endocardial and epicardial catheter ablation is superior to endocardial ablation alone for preventing recurrent ventricular tachycardias in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia.
Why the study?
Does catheter ablation improve outcomes in patients with ARVC/D experiencing recurrent VT episodes or electrical storms?
Does catheter ablation improve outcomes in patients with ARVC/D experiencing recurrent VT episodes or electrical storms?
Combined endo- and epicardial catheter ablation is a useful adjunctive therapy to ICDs for managing recurrent ventricular tachycardia in patients with ARVC/D.
May support combined ablation for recurrent VT in ARVC/D; leaves open confirmation by randomized trials.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/ dysplasia (ARVC/D), mostly affecting young/middle-aged individuals, poses a significant risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and subsequent sudden cardiac death (SCD). Antiarrhythmic agents (AAA) provide insufficient arrhythmia suppression and prevention and can be proarrhythmic. Thus, the implantable cardioverters-defibrillator (ICD) is considered the first-line treatment, especially in patients with secondary prevention indication. Nevertheless, catheter ablation is an additional therapy to the ICD which has proved its efficacy in primary and secondary prevention of fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. The superiority of the combined endo- and epicardial VT ablation in this population is clear since the ARVC/D substrate has been shown to be mostly epicardial. Due to progressive nature of ARVC/D, ablation seems to be a useful tool for the patients who experience recurrent VT episodes or electrical storms.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pastromas et al. (2015) conducted a review in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia (ARVC/D). Combined endocardial and epicardial catheter ablation vs. Endocardial ablation alone or antiarrhythmic agents was evaluated. Combined endocardial and epicardial catheter ablation is superior to endocardial ablation alone for preventing recurrent ventricular tachycardias in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: