Electrophysiologic characteristics and catheter ablation of ventricular tachyarrhythmias among patients with heart failure on ventricular assist device support.

BACKGROUND

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT) are common among ventricular assist device (VAD) recipients, yet electrophysiologic (EP) characteristics and catheter ablation outcomes remain uncharacterized.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the EP characteristics and catheter ablation outcomes for VTs among heart failure patients on VAD support.

METHODS

The Cleveland Clinic registry of consecutive patients undergoing VAD placement in 1991-2010 with medically refractory, symptomatic VT referred for EP study and catheter ablation.

RESULTS

Among 611 recipients of VAD (mean age 53.3 ± 12.4 years, 80% men), 21 patients (3.4%) were referred for 32 EP procedures, including 11 patients (52%) presenting with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy (13 shocks, 26 antitachycardia pacing). Data from 44 inducible tachycardias (mean cycle length 339 ± 59 ms) demonstrated monomorphic VT (n = 40, 91%; superior axis 52%, right bundle branch block morphology 41%) and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT)/ventricular fibrillation (n = 4, 8%). Electroanatomic mapping of 28 tachycardias in 20 patients demonstrated reentrant VT related to intrinsic scar (n = 21 of 28, 75%) more commonly than the apical inflow cannulation site (n = 4 of 28, 14%), focal/microreentry VT (n = 2 of 28, 7%), or bundle branch reentry (n = 1 of 28, 3.5%). Catheter ablation succeeded in 18 of 21 patients (86%). VT recurred in 7 of 21 patients (33%) at a mean of 133 ± 98 days, and 6 patients (29%) required repeat procedures, with subsequent recurrence in 4 of 21 patients (19%).

CONCLUSIONS

Catheter ablation of VT is effective among recipients of VAD. Intrinsic myocardial scar, rather than the apical device cannulation site, appears to be the dominant substrate.