R Wave Sensing After VT Ablation

Sustained, monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is most commonly encountered in patients with structural heart disease, usually with ischemic aetiology. It has been proven that repeated episodes of sustained VT contribute to the mortality of patients with structural heart disease. These patients are usually implanted with implantable cardioverter defibrillator without (ICD) or with cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT-D) as part of sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention and have had activation of the device due to the sustained VT episodes. According to the current guidelines 3D mapping with radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the tachycardia substrate is an established therapeutic option. As part of the clinical follow-up of patients implanted with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), including ICDs and CRT-Ds, function parameters are monitored every 6 months. The same check-up is done before and after any procedure involving RF ablation. Furthermore, a transient drop of R wave sensing has been demonstrated after the RF ablation of the atrioventricular (AV) node in patients with uncontrollable fast atrial fibrillation implanted with single-chamber pacemakers. The above mentioned have not been studied yet in patients ablated due to sustained VT. Hence, the aim of this study is to assess the change in R wave sensing after the RF ablation of VT substrate in patients with structural heart disease.

This study will be performed as a clinical, prospective, multi-centre, observational (analytic, longitudinal) cohort study with patient enrolment in 4 electrophysiology centres in Croatia and Switzerland and a structured follow-up period of 12 months.

All consecutive patients with sustained VT implanted with ICD or CRT-D undergoing RF ablation procedure of myocardial substrate, who are able to understand and sign informed consent, will be enrolled.

Exclusion criteria:

• Patients with combined mechanical aortic and mitral valve prostheses
• Patients with RF ablation of VT done in the last 12 months
• Patients with known damaged ICD/CRT-D electrode or battery
• Patients undergoing VT ablation who have not been implanted with ICD or CRT-D
• Patients not willing or able to undergo clinical follow-up of ICD/CRT-D device
• Patients with life expectancy < 1 year
• Not able to understand or willing to sign informed consent
• Age < 18 years Primary objective is a R wave sensing drop > 30% after VT substrate ablation procedure.

Specific (secondary) end-points:

• incidence of VT recurrence after the ablation procedure;
• risk factors for R wave sensing drop (> 30%) after the RF ablation of VT substrate;
• time needed for R wave sensing recovery after the RF ablation procedure. Recruiting should not exceed 12 months with the minimal follow-up period of 12 months (24 months in total).

The risk categorisation of the study was done and the study was awarded a risk category A.

Sample size was chosen according to annual procedure volumes in Croatia and Switzerland. In addition, it is confirmed by power test (number needed to recruit: 52). Recruiting should not exceed 12 months. Categorical variables will be presented by contingency tables in absolute values and percentages. Categorical variables will be compared by the chi-square with Yates corrections or Fisher's exact test. Continuous data will be expressed as means and standard deviations or median with corresponding interquartile range. The differences in quantitative variables will be tested by Mann-Whitney U-test (non-parametric test for independent samples). Logistic regression will be used to analyse the association between all variables of interest and the R wave sensing drop. Multivariate logistic regression will be used to adjust for confounding factors. Predictors of the R wave sensing drop will be assessed in a univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. The statistical analysis will be done using SPSS Software Version 22.0 or newer (IBM SPSS Statistics, New York, USA).

This unique study offers the possibility to show the impact of RF ablation on short-term and long-term R wave sensing change assessed by ICD or CRT-D's ventricle electrode in patients with sustained VT and structural heart disease undergoing ablation procedure. This observational data is needed to further refine the treatment of these patients and to prevent possible ICD/CRT-D dysfunction which could endanger this patient population. Despite a high number of cohort registries for cardiovascular diseases (e.g. Danish heart registry, ORBIT-AF, GARFIELD AF registry, Swiss AF registry), there are scarce data on patients with structural VT and no data regarding R wave sensing changes influenced by RF energy application in ventricles. In addition, this could influence obligatory rhythm-monitoring duration and consequently hospitalization duration of patients with VT undergoing RF ablation procedures. Apart from the above mentioned, in those patients with non-optimal preprocedural R wave sensing, this could mean contraindication for procedure or having the need to do postprocedural defibrillation testing. It is likely, that data from our study will lead to future changes in periprocedural planning and modalities.

This study will be conducted in compliance with the current version of the Declaration of Helsinki, the ICH-GCP or ISO EN 14155 (as far as applicable) as well as all national legal and regulatory requirements. According to ethical regulations, the study plan with the proposed participant information and consent form as well as other project-specific documents will be submitted to Ethic committee of the participating centres.