http://informahealthcare.com/pgm ISSN: 0032-5481 (print), 1941-9260 (electronic) Postgrad Med, 2015; Early Online: 1–11 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2015.1045816

CLINICAL FEATURE REVIEW

Management of ventricular arrhythmias in structural heart disease Jason T Jacobson, Sei Iwai and Wilbert Aronow

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Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

Abstract

Keywords:

Ventricular arrhythmias (VA) are a source of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with structural heart disease (SHD). The advent of the implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) has had a positive effect on mortality, but the associated morbidity remains a significant problem. Modern treatment of VA has advanced far beyond medical therapy and includes strategies as simple as intelligent ICD programming and as complex as catheter ablation (CA). In these pages, the spectrum of management strategies will be discussed; from anti-arrhythmic drugs and ICD implantation and programming to CA and autonomic modulation. The focus of this review will be on strategies for secondary prevention of VA in patients with SHD, supported by clinical evidence for their utilization.

Ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, ablation, implantable defibrillator, sympathetic denervation

Introduction Patients with structural heart disease (SHD) can be at increased risk for sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VA) that may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Whereas not all VA in this population will lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD), they may have a prognostic value in predicting those at risk. The development of the implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) has revolutionized the prevention of SCD, but to believe that the management of VA in this patient population starts and ends with implantation is a disservice to the patient. In the following pages, long-term treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF) in patients with SHD will be discussed. A detailed discussion of the emergency care of VA (i.e. acute termination) is a lengthy topic in itself and beyond the scope of the present review. SHD is a widely utilized term applicable to many pathophysiologic processes that lead to abnormal myocardial structure and function (mechanical and electrophysiological), and often signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF). The risk of VA is dependent on the type of SHD, degree of ventricular dysfunction and severity of CHF. Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) occurs in the setting of healed myocardial infarction (MI), leaving behind an area of fibrotic scar. This is in contrast to non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), a term which encompasses many different etiologies, such as viral cardiomyopathy (CMP), cardiac sarcoidosis, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), left ventricular noncompaction, idiopathic dilated CMP, and others. Frequently, the exact etiology of NICM is

History Received 16 February 2015 Accepted 24 April 2015 Published online 13 May 2015

not able to be determined. Therefore, this group will be treated as a whole. Substrate and mechanism of ventricular arrhythmias The initiation and maintenance of VA in SHD is a complex process that requires an abnormal electrical milieu (substrate), an initiating event (such as ectopic beats) and the modulating factors that influence both (such as autonomic balance). Much is known about the substrate and its role in arrhythmogenesis. A common endpoint of many CMP is the development of ventricular fibrosis and scar. Be it scar from MI, fibrosis from infiltrative CMP such as cardiac sarcoidosis, or fibro-fatty replacement in ARVC, this process is the common substrate for VA amongst all etiologies. The fibrotic pattern varies depending on etiology of SHD. Whereas MI causes a predominantly subendocardial scar in a vascular distribution, NICM-associated fibrosis can be mid-myocardial or epicardial without a correlation to coronary artery territory [1]. Scar deposition is rarely a homogeneous process; usually, surviving myocardial fibers are interspersed in areas of fibrosis [2]. Whereas these surviving fibers do not participate in the systolic function, they are capable of impulse conduction and do so during sinus rhythm [2-4]. The best-studied process for VT is that of monomorphic VT (unchanging QRS morphology and rate) in chronic healed MI. Conduction in infarcted areas is generally slow due to decreased gap junctions at the intercalated disks and also due to more frequent conduction between parallel myocytes, leading to nonlinear, “zigzag” conduction [5,6]. Action potential characteristics in

Correspondence: Wilbert Aronow, From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center, 100 Woods Rd, Macy Pavilion, Valhalla, NY, USA. E-mail: [email protected]
2015 Informa UK Ltd.

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Figure 1. Critical isthmus conduction. Each panel displays an area of myocardial scar composed of dense fibrosis (blue shapes) flanking a zone of surviving myocardium displaying slow conduction (red stippled area), within normal myocardium (red). Left panel: conduction during sinus rhythm enters the isthmus from both sides. These wavefronts (yellow arrows) collide inside the isthmus. Middle panel: a premature ventricular beat (yellow sun) occurs during the isthmus refractory period and conduction is blocked into the near side of the isthmus (black bar), but the wavefront (yellow arcs) conducts around the scar allowing time for the far side of the isthmus to recover excitability. Right panel: as the wavefront (dashed arrow) enters the far side of the isthmus, it conducts slowly, allowing for the near side of the isthmus to recover excitability, thereby enabling reentry.

chronically infarcted areas have been shown to be normal in animal studies [7-9]. These areas of surviving myocardium within scar display longer refractory periods and thus encounter transient unidirectional block due to premature ventricular contractions (PVC) or changes in heart rate (such as supraventricular tachycardia) [10]. The mechanism of these PVC that initiate reentry is not completely understood, but likely result from abnormal automaticity of poorly coupled myocytes [11,12]. Due to slow conduction in the “critical isthmus” of tissue, the site of unidirectional block has time to recover conduction. This allows for a reentrant circuit to be established within the scar (Figure 1). The initiating PVC may originate from the area of scar that connects the critical isthmus to the normal myocardium, the exit site [13]. Whereas reentry is the dominant mechanism for VT across all forms of SHD, patients may also have focal (non-reentrant, originating from a focal source and spreading centrifugally in all directions) VT, especially those with NICM [14,15]

Figure 3. Bundle branch reentry. The yellow arrows indicate the direction of conduction in the typical circuit. The circuit travels down the right bundle branch (blue line), activates the ventricular myocardium (tan triangle) and crosses the interventricular septum (red rectangle) and conducts retrogradely up the left bundle branch (black line).

(Figure 2). These focal sources still arise from areas of scar [15-17] and, on a cellular level, are likely due to catecholamine-facilitated triggered activity (after-depolarizations) [17]. As such, these VT and PVC may be sensitive to anti-adrenergic treatment (b blockers). Another form of reentry that can be seen uncommonly in patients with SHD is bundle branch reentry, which utilizes the right and left bundle branch as limbs of the circuit (Figure 3) [15,16,18]. This generally requires some degree of abnormal bundle branch conduction to allow for reentry. The mechanistic underpinning for VF initiation is heterogeneity in ventricular refractoriness, especially in regions of myocardial scar, leading to unidirectional conduction block and the formation of multiple reentrant wavelets [19,20]. The initiation of VF in SHD can be due to VT or PVC [21,22]. The most important modulating factor behind VA is the sympathetic nervous system. The exact mechanism by which catecholamines influence VA in SHD is not clearly delineated in humans. In addition to enhancement of ectopic activity (due to both enhanced automaticity and triggered activity) that may initiate sustained VA [11,12,17], inhomogeneities in sympathetic innervation of infarcted areas can lead to ectopy as well as changes in potassium channel activity [23] and thus a dispersion of refractory periods. Ventricular arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy

Figure 2. Focal tachycardia. An ectopic focus activates near the scar and spreads centrifugally from this site in all directions (yellow dashed circles).

Whereas it is well acknowledged that SHD can cause VA by the mechanisms detailed above, it is less well recognized that frequent VT/PVC could actually cause an NICM [24]. It is

Management of VA in structural heart disease

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important to realize this as ventricular function can recover once the VA is eliminated (most effectively with ablation) [25,26], which can take several months [27]. Clues to this diagnosis include a VA morphology consistent with an “idiopathic” VA (those that are most frequently seen in normal hearts, such as right ventricular outflow tract or aortic cusp site of origin) on ECG, a high burden of ventricular ectopy (>16–24% of all beats) [24,28] and lack of scar or other features of ICM or NICM on imaging studies, such as echocardiography or cardiac MRI [29].

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3.5/month on dofetilide, p = 0.006) in 30 patients with ICDs that had failed at least one other AAD (63% amiodarone) [36]. Azimilide, another Class III agent, has been shown to be effective in preventing ICD therapies for recurrent VA in patients with CMP [37,38]. The larger of the two trials (633 subjects), the shock inhibition evaluation with azimilide, showed a relative risk reduction of 38% for 75 mg daily and 62% for 125 mg daily at 1 year compared to placebo [37]. As of this writing, azimilide is unavailable in the United States. b blocker

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Secondary prevention The remainder of this manuscript will discuss the chronic management of VA once they have occurred (secondary prevention). This management is rife with paradox. It is important to note that VA prevention and SCD prevention are not one and the same. The prevention of the latter rests solely in the hands of the ICD, which does not actually prevent, merely terminates, VA. While lifesaving, the delivery of high-energy shocks from the ICD is associated with much morbidity and mortality and paradoxically requires interventions to prevent them altogether.

Medical therapy Anti-arrhythmic drugs Anti-arrhythmic drugs that act directly on the ion channels subtending the cardiac action potential can be effective in decreasing the burden of VA, but not enough to impart protection from SCD, and therefore, their use is largely adjuvant to prevent ICD therapies. These drugs can prolong action potential duration or decrease conduction velocity to further slow conduction in scar tissue to prevent the establishment of the circuit, or suppress the focal VT and initiating ectopic beats. Unfortunately, many AAD display proarrhythmia that can increase the risk of SCD in patients with CMP [30,31]. Sotalol has been shown to decrease ICD shocks or death from any cause by 44% compared to placebo in patients with ICD for secondary prevention [32]. The optimal pharmacological therapy in cardioverter defibrillator patients (OPTIC) trial randomized patients receiving ICD shocks for VA to three AAD arms: amiodarone plus b blockers, sotalol, and b blockers alone. At 1 year, the percentage of patients receiving ICD therapy for VA (ATP or shocks) was as follows: amiodarone plus b blockers 13%, followed by sotalol 38.9%, and then b blockers alone 45% [33]. Of note, the rate of drug discontinuation was 18.2% for amiodarone and 23.5% for sotalol (versus 5.3% for b blocker alone) due to side effects [33], highlighting a significant issue with AAD treatment. Additionally, an 11-year follow-up of the Canadian implantable defibrillator study (CIDS) trial showed a 5.5% per year mortality and a 50% discontinuation rate with amiodarone therapy [34]. One other available Class III AAD has been suggested to decrease ICD therapy for VA: dofetilide. In one brief observational report, 50% of patients had a decrease in ICD therapies after starting treatment with dofetilide [35]. Additionally, Baquero et al. found a significant reduction in monthly VT/VF episodes (1.8 ± 4.5/month before vs. 1.0 ±

b blockers are considered a Class II AAD in the Vaughan– Williams classification. In addition to positive effects on mortality, data suggest a decrease in recurrent VA as well. Observational studies in patients with prior SCD and hemodynamically relevant VT have reported a decrease in recurrence [31,39,40]. Hallstrom et al. [31] reported an adjusted relative risk reduction of 38% related to b blocker therapy in survivors of cardiac arrest. In this same study, a higher mortality was seen with AAD use. In the Anti-arrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) registry [39], patients on b blocker but not treated with AAD or ICD showed an ~50% reduction in adjusted relative risk of mortality due to b blocker therapy. Hreybe et al. also showed an increase in time to first ICD shock for VA in patients treated with b blocker compared to those that were not [40]. In a randomized comparison to sotalol, metoprolol [41] showed a greater survival free of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with implantable defibrillators. This is in contrast to the OPTIC trial, which showed greater efficacy for sotalol [33]. Non-anti-arrhythmic drugs Whereas many agents lacking direct ion channel effects have been shown to prevent SCD, few have been shown to prevent the recurrence of VA. It is important to remember that most of these agents may act in preventing the formation/ progression of the substrate that leads to VA, thus enacting an indirect “anti-arrhythmic” effect. Agents such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, aldosterone inhibitors and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors have not been shown to prevent recurrence of VA. Fish oil Poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) commonly found in the oil of certain fish may have anti-arrhythmic effects to prevent recurrences of VA. The data on these compounds is somewhat contradictory. Whereas some studies suggest a benefit [42-44], others have shown no effect [45] or an actual increase in VA in patients with ICD [46], leading to increased therapies. A recent meta-analysis of > 30,000 patients in nine trials showed no significant effect on VA [47]. At this time, PUFA cannot be recommended as a viable treatment for VA suppression. Anti-anginal agents The recent addition of ranolazine to the anti-anginal armamentarium has led to discovery of anti-arrhythmic properties

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of this drug, following in the footsteps of amiodarone. Ranolazine is a late sodium channel blocker that has antiarrhythmic properties [48]. Whereas no randomized trials have shown definitive efficacy for VA, case reports and series do suggest this compound may have promise [49-51]. These reports have mostly been in patients with recurrent PVCs or ICD therapies for VA, who were also on traditional AAD that were ineffective (usually amiodarone). The addition of ranolazine coincided with an interruption of VT storm or suppression of further ICD therapies [49-51].

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Implantable cardiac defibrillator The utility of the ICD in primary and secondary prevention of SCD in patients at risk is supported by multiple randomized, multicenter trials, establishing this device as the firstline therapy in patients with SHD and VA. It is important to note that whereas the ICD does prevent SCD, it does not prevent VA. Sustained VA are terminated either with a highenergy shock or, if monomorphic VT of a rate slow enough to respond, with ATP. Secondary prevention trials There are three randomized trials of ICD for secondary prevention of SCD from VA. Two of these trials, the CIDS [52] and the Cardiac Arrest Study Hamburg (CASH) [53] showed a nonsignificant decrease in total mortality. CIDS also showed a nonsignificant decrease in arrhythmic death, whereas CASH did show a significant reduction in recurrent SCD. Of note, CIDS also included patients with syncope from VT, VT >150 bpm with presyncope or angina and an EF 10 s or sustained VT induced at an electrophysiological study. Both trials compared the ICD to amiodarone. Additionally, CASH included treatment arms consisting of metoprolol and propafenone. Whereas the metoprolol arm showed similar results to amiodarone, the propafenone arm was discontinued early after showing an unacceptably high mortality rate. The AVID randomized > 1000 subjects to initial treatment with an ICD or treatment with an AAD (amiodarone or sotalol) in patients with VF or VT with syncope, or VT with EF < 40% and symptoms of hemodynamic compromise [54]. As opposed to CIDS and CASH, AVID showed a clear mortality benefit at 1, 2 and 3 years of follow-up as compared to AAD (89.3% vs. 82.3%, 81.6% vs. 74.7% and 75.4% vs. 64.1% respectively, p < 0.02). These three trials were instrumental in establishing the ICD as first-line therapy for hemodynamically significant VA in patients with SHD. It is, however, important to note that these trials do not address those patients with hemodynamically tolerated VT, or those with SHD and normal/near-normal ventricular function. The data from these studies have been utilized to support the use of the ICD for these patient populations in the guidelines [55]. Whereas the ICD has been a life-saving therapy for many patients with VA and SHD, it is by no means infallible. Sudden death can still occur at a rate of ~ 1.3–4.5% [56-59] with 16–38% due to refractory VA [60,61].

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Cardiac resynchronization Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been a great advance in device therapy for patients with CHF. The primary effect of CRT is on clinical CHF symptoms, but many have reported a decrease in VA as well [62,63]. The mechanism for this is likely multifactorial, including improvement in clinical CHF class, reverse remodeling and direct electrophysiological effects [62,64,65]. That said, it must be noted that a number of case reports and series have described the initiation of VT storm in some patients after institution of CRT [66-69], likely due to direct stimulation of the substrate responsible for reentrant VA [70] and increased dispersion of repolarization [71]. As no randomized trials have been designed to specifically determine if CRT has anti-arrhythmic effects, VA alone is not an indication for CRT and patients should meet traditional criteria for implantation as well.

Shock morbidity and mortality ICD therapies can cause significant psychological morbidity. There is a dose-dependent effect of shock frequency on the development of anxiety-related disorders (panic disorder, agoraphobia and generalized anxiety) and depression [72,73]. Ironically, depression can lead to an increase in ICD therapies [74] as well. In a seeming paradox, recent data has shown an association between ICD shocks and increased mortality. In an analysis of the sudden cardiac death in heart failure (SCD HeFT) trial, patients that experienced appropriate shocks had a hazard ratio of 5.68 for mortality [75]. It is unclear if shocks contribute to, or are simply a marker for, risk of death. Those with a high burden of VA may simply have more advanced disease. One would expect that those being treated with ATP (ATP; see below) would have the same mortality if this were so. Data regarding this are conflicting [76-78]. Most recently, an analysis of the multicenter automatic defibrillator implantation trial-reduce inappropriate therapy (MADIT-RIT) trial [79] showed that appropriate shocks increased mortality, whereas appropriate ATP did not; however, any inappropriate therapies (shocks or ATP for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias) were also associated with higher mortality [80]. The authors concluded that this study does provide evidence of the link between ICD shocks for VA and mortality. Shock prevention Due to the clear morbidity and possible mortality associated with ICD shocks, it is imperative to prevent recurrence. Whereas AAD can be effective in preventing recurrent shocks for VA as discussed above, evidence-supported ICD programming is crucial in preventing the delivery of shocks that may not be necessary in the first instance. Modern ICDs are not only capable of delivering shocks to treat VA but can also attempt to terminate VT by overdrive pacing, or ATP. Antitachycardia pacing terminates VT by causing conduction block within the VT circuit [81], without the discomfort and potential morbidity of ICD shocks. While

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DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2015.1045816

originally applied only to slower VT due to the fear of inefficacy, syncope and acceleration to VF when utilized for VT >200 BPM, subsequent studies largely dispelled these concerns [82,83]. The PainFree Rx II trial randomized patients to receive ATP vs. shocks for VT of rates 188–250 BPM [83]. The investigators found that ATP effectively terminated fast VTs in 81% of episodes without any difference in mortality, syncope or acceleration of VT to VF [83]. Additionally, the investigators detected an improvement in quality of life in the ATP arm over that seen in the shock arm [83]. As the results of the PainFree Rx II trial, many trials have evaluated overall programming protocols to reduce the incidence of ICD shocks. These trials have utilized ATP as well as delaying the delivery of therapies in the hopes that VA may actually prove to be nonsustained and terminate spontaneously without any detriment to the patient. In addition, therapies for slower VT have been minimized in the belief that they pose little risk for sudden death. The aforementioned MADIT-RIT trial compared three ICD programming protocols in a primary prevention population: A “standard” protocol that would treat VT of 170– 200 BPM within 2.5 s and >200 BPM after 1 s, a “delayed therapy” protocol that would treat VT 170-200 BPM after 60 s of tachycardia, 200–249 BPM after 12 s and >250 BPM after 2.5 s, and a “high rate” protocol that would treat only VA > 200 BPM after 2.5 s [79]. ATP was utilized in all arms of the trial. This trial showed a significant reduction in mortality, appropriate therapies (mostly ATP) and inappropriate therapies in both the delayed therapy and high-rate protocols compared with the standard programming, thus proving that more conservative ICD programming is preferable in primary prevention ICD recipients [79]. The effect of long-detection interval vs. standard-detection interval for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators on antitachycardia pacing and shock delivery (ADVANCE III) trial [84] also evaluated delaying therapy delivery, but in both primary and secondary prevention ICD recipients. In this trial, prolonged detection time was defined by a number of intervals in the tachycardia zone (30 out of 40 in the prolonged detection group; 18 out of 24 for the control group). For primary prevention patients, VA greater than 188 BPM were treated, whereas in the secondary prevention group, VA detection was based on the patients’ clinical tachycardia [84]. This trial also showed a decrease in both appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapies with prolonged detection time, but without any difference in mortality [84]. In a sub-group analysis of the secondary prevention patients in ADVANCE III, the prolonged detection arm experienced the same results [85].

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Ablation of monomorphic VT in the setting of remote MI is the paradigm for which all VT ablation in SHD is based. The critical isthmus of the VT circuit (see above) is located within scar utilizing electrode-tipped catheters and rendered electrically inert with ablation energy (most frequently radiofrequency electrical energy). This technique is based on the early experience of surgical subendocardial resection of infarcted myocardium pioneered at the University of Pennsylvania [86,87]. CA offers a minimally invasive approach with less morbidity and has largely supplanted surgical resection. Contemporary VT ablation utilizes modern tools to enhance both the mapping and ablation processes. Computer mapping systems are able to follow catheter movements in three-dimensional space and collect data points that denote location and electrical parameters such as activation timing and tissue voltage [88]. These “electroanatomic mapping systems” allow for the reproduction of the endocardial and/or epicardial surface in the computer space, which can be used to guide catheter manipulation with minimal fluoroscopy [89]. Locations with signals of interest can be tagged on the reconstructed geometry and revisited for ablation later in the procedure (Figure 4). Signals showing low-voltage consistent with scar/fibrosis, especially those that display multicomponent fractionation, can be involved in VT circuits [3,4,90,91]. Mapping can be performed during sinus rhythm and VT. A voltage map is often constructed during sinus rhythm to locate areas of scar [92]. A mapping catheter is moved throughout the ventricle and placed in contact with the myocardium over many cardiac cycles. A 3D geometry of the chamber is created on the mapping system. Confluent areas of low voltage are color-coded and fractionated signals and late potentials (occurring after the end of the QRS complex) are tagged on the map to be revisited after VT is induced. If the VT is hemodynamically tolerated, the circuit can be

Ablation Catheter ablation (CA) for the treatment of VA has evolved significantly over the past few decades, greatly aided by better understanding of the arrhythmogenic substrate, as well as technological advances in computer mapping systems and delivery of ablation energy. Initially only an option in the minority of patients with hemodynamically stable VT, CA can now be offered to most patients with VT and VF in the setting of SHD.

Figure 4. Electroanatomic map of epicardial scar in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. A large epicardial scar area is shown (dense scar in read, normal tissue in purple, border zone in yellow and green). The gray spheres indicate fibrotic areas without any voltage. The inset shows signals from a catheter at the green and black spheres (arrow). The top three tracings are surface ECG. The blue vertical line denotes the end of the sinus rhythm QRS. Note the late potentials in the bottom two tracings, one that is very wide (black sphere on the scar map).

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Figure 5. Critical isthmus mapping and ablation. The yellow box on the scar map coincides with the yellow box on the tracings to the right. The ECG is shown in the top 12 tracings with signals from the isthmus in the 5 tracings on the bottom. During ventricular tachycardia, the area displayed in Figure 4 shows electrical activity during diastole (bracketed by blue lines). Again note the wide fractionated potentials. The bottom tracing shows the 12 lead ECG during ablation. Within 2.5 s of energy delivery (red rectangle), the tachycardia terminated.

mapped by annotating the activation timing at sites throughout the chamber in reference to the QRS complex and performing pacing maneuvers to prove that the site is a part of the circuit [93-95]. The critical isthmus will display activation during diastole (between QRS complexes), as this lowvoltage activity in the scar cannot be seen on the surface ECG. Once this critical isthmus is defined, ablation can terminate the VT and prevent recurrence (Figure 5) [95,96]. In addition, patients that exhibit frequent PVC may benefit from their ablation by better targeting reentrant VT and allowing for some improvement in the LV function [13,97,98]. Unfortunately, most VT (~ 90% [99]) are not hemodynamically tolerated long enough for traditional mapping. Modern techniques for VT mapping and ablation focus on modification of the scar (“substrate modification”) guided by induced VT that is quickly terminated. The potential critical isthmus of an observed VT can be located by pacing inside the scar area (“pacemapping”) during a stable rhythm (sinus or right ventricular paced rhythm). If the resultant paced QRS matches the VT QRS, the site is likely at or near the isthmus and is ablated [16,100]. During most VT ablation procedures, a combination of mapping during VT that is tolerated and pacemapping those that are not is utilized to maximize outcomes. It is important to note that multiple VT can often be induced during a single procedure and that outcomes are best if all are targeted [101,102]. Observational studies of this approach in ICM patients [102] and both ICM and NICM patients [100] experiencing frequent ICD shocks for VT showed a significant reduction in episodes after ablation in at least 2/3 of patients. The most current ablation techniques consist of extensive ablation targeting all signals that display evidence of slow conduction in the hope of interrupting all possible VT circuits. The complete elimination of all these sites, both

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endocardially and epicardially, does show promise and does predict long-term success independent of non-inducibility of VT at the end of a procedure [103,104]. Few randomized trials of VT ablation in patients with SHD have been published. Two such studies enrolled only patients with ICM and documented VA. The Prophylactic CA for the prevention of defibrillator therapy (SMASH-VT) trial randomized 128 patients with a recent implantation of ICD for VA or had a recent ICD therapy for VA after a recent implant, to ablation (substrate modification) or standard medical therapy (patients on Class I or III AAD were excluded). There was a significant decrease in ICD therapies between the standard medical therapy and ablation groups (33% vs. 12%, p = 0.007) [105]. The CA of stable ventricular tachycardia before defibrillator implantation in patients with coronary heart disease (VTACH) trial randomized 107 patients with hemodynamically tolerated monomorphic VT to ablation prior to ICD implantation or ICD and standard medical therapy (without AAD) [106]. The ablation approach included traditional mapping of the stable VT and substrate modification as needed for other induced VT. The intention-to-treat analysis showed that the ablation group enjoyed a longer ICD therapy-free interval (18.6 vs. 5.9 months) and greater VA-free survival at 2 years (47% vs. 29%), with the greatest benefit seen in patients with EF > 30% [106]. A follow-up on treatment analysis (13% of the ablation group did not undergo the procedure and 19% of the control group were ablated) did show a greater effect of ablation when compared to the intention-to-treat analysis: relative risk reduction of VA 49% vs. 39% and relative risk reduction in cardiac hospitalization 52% vs. 45% [107]. No randomized trials of ablation for VT in NICM have been published to date. The initial series suggest similar efficacy, but recent data suggests lower success than for VT in ICM [108]. The substrate for VT in these patients is less frequently endocardial and may be mid-myocardial or even epicardial in location [1]. The advent of a percutaneous subxiphoid approach to accessing the pericardial space for VT ablation has allowed for ablation of many VT previously unaccessible [109-111]. The ability to identify and ablate mid-myocardial circuits remains a challenge. In refractory cases, selective intracoronary alcohol ablation can be effective, but needs to be used cautiously [112]. New ablation technologies able to deliver deeper lesions will hopefully address this issue in the near future [113,114]. Once considered an arrhythmia not amenable to ablation, techniques to address VF have been pioneered over the past few years. As SMASH-VT suggests, ablation of VT has the additional effect of decreasing ICD therapies for VF as well [105], likely explained by the fact that many VF episodes begin as VT, but also likely due to the extensive substrate ablation. Specifically, surviving Purkinje fibers located in areas of scar can induce VF in both ICM and NICM via ectopic beats [115,116]. These areas can be identified as displaying early signals that precede the QRS during sinus rhythm and during ectopic beats. Ablation of these areas can prevent further VF episodes, even if the exact site of ectopic beat origination is not identified [115,116].

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Despite the extensive body of literature on ablation and the expanding application to multiple VA substrates and areas of origin, a definitive mortality benefit has not been proven. Additionally, randomized comparisons with AAD or ICD have not been published. For these reasons, at this writing ablation of VA in SHD is largely adjunctive to the ICD in patients that fail, do not tolerate or do not wish to take AAD.

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been on the Data and Safety Monitoring Board of and received honoraria from BIOTRONIK. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

References

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Autonomic modulation Based on the known benefits of beta-adrenergic blockade previously discussed, and the success of left cardiac sympathetic denervation for long QT syndrome patients [117], invasive approaches to autonomic modulation have generated increasing interest for the treatment of VA in SHD. The stellate ganglia provide direct sympathetic innervation to the heart. A number of case reports and series have investigated the surgical destruction of the lower third to half of the stellate ganglia for arrhythmia control [118,119]. In 41 patients refractory to AAD and ablation for VA, Vaseghi et al. found bilateral stellate ganglia destruction more effective than leftsided ganglion destruction alone (ICD shock free survival 48% vs. 30%, p = 0.04) [119]. The development of renal artery denervation for the treatment of hypertension [120,121] has generated much interest in the effects on arrhythmia prevention. The renal afferent signals are processed in the central nervous system and affect sympathetic outflow and circulating catecholamines. There is also evidence that they directly interact with the stellate ganglia as well [122]. A number of case reports and series have displayed potential benefit in SHD patients with refractory VA [123-125]. These data must be tempered by uncertain efficacy of renal denervation for the treatment of hypertension [126]. Lastly, direct spinal cord stimulation, which can help prevent angina by suppressing sympathetic effects on the heart, has been utilized in two patients with refractory VA with good effect [127]. These invasive approaches to cardiac sympathetic blockade offer unique insights into arrhythmogenesis and offer potential future therapies, but have yet to be proven in large-scale trials.

Conclusions The treatment of VA in patients with SHD has evolved over the decades from a primarily medical approach to one dominated by technology and invasive interventions. Whereas the ICD has offered extended life to many patients, recurrent VA are the cause of significant morbidity still. A complex, multimodality approach by expert clinicians is necessary for successful management of these patients. Future technologic advances will allow for the effective treatment of more patients.

Declaration of interest JT Jacobson has been a consultant to St Jude Medical and received research support from Biosense Webster in the past year. S Iwai has been a consultant to Biosense Webster, has received honoraria from Medtronic and St. Jude Medical, and

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