Impact of mechanical circulatory support on in-hospital outcomes among patients with ventricular tachycardia requiring ablation

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation is a high-risk procedure, particularly due to the potential for hemodynamic instability. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is increasingly utilized to manage these risks. This study investigated the in-hospital outcomes of VT ablation with MCS use, emphasizing its impact on mortality and procedural complications. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing VT ablation from 2019 to 2020, using the National Inpatient Sample data. Patients aged 18 years and over were included. MCS includes a percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pLVAD), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and intraaortic balloon pump (IABP). We also conducted a subgroup analysis for patients experiencing cardiogenic shock (CS). The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality; secondary outcomes included acute kidney injury (AKI), AKI-requiring dialysis, any bleeding events, gastrointestinal bleeding, ischemic stroke, heart transplant, and durable LVAD (dLVAD) utilization. Results: We included 14 450 patients, of whom 6.5% utilized MCS. The MCS group showed a higher in-hospital mortality rate than the non-MCS group (24% vs. 2%, p < 0.01). Secondary outcomes showed statistically higher rates in the MCS group compared to the non-MCS groups. Stratification by MCS modality did not affect outcomes except that pLVAD was associated with lower rates of AKI. In the CS subgroup, the MCS group exhibited significantly higher mortality compared to the non-MCS group (32% vs. 8.4%, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The use of MCS during VT ablation is associated with increased in-hospital mortality, underscoring the severity of cases requiring such support. These findings show the need for careful assessment and optimal usage of MCS to enhance patient outcomes.