Preventive Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in Patients with Ischaemic Cardiomyopathy: Meta-analysis of Randomised Trials

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) aims to treat the underlying arrhythmia substrate to prevent ICD therapies. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the safety and efficacy of VT ablation prior to or at the time of secondary prevention ICD implantation in patients with coronary artery disease, as compared with deferred VT ablation. Based on a systematic literature search, three randomised trials were considered eligible for inclusion in this analysis, and data on the number of patients with appropriate ICD shocks, appropriate ICD therapy, arrhythmic storm, death and major complications were extracted from each study. On pooled analysis, there was a significant reduction of appropriate ICD shocks (OR 2.58; 95% CI [1.54-4.34]; p<0.001) and appropriate ICD therapies (OR 2.04; 95% CI [1.15-3.61]; p=0.015) in patients undergoing VT ablation at the time of ICD implantation without significant differences with respect to complications (OR 1.39; 95% CI [0.43-4.51]; p=0.581). Mortality did not differ between both groups (OR 1.30; 95% CI [0.60-2.45); p=0.422). Preventive catheter ablation of VT in patients with coronary heart disease at the time of secondary prevention ICD implantation results in a significant reduction of appropriate ICD shocks and any appropriate ICD therapy compared with patients without or with deferred VT ablation. No significant difference with respect to complications or mortality was observed between both treatment strategies.