Clinical Investigation and Trials for Ventricular Tachycardia

At the University of Chicago Medicine, we understand that successful treatment is not possible without a commitment to research that is most likely to change clinical practice. Our ventricular tachycardia team is dedicated to clinical investigation and research to discover more innovative and comprehensive treatment options for patients.

A Leading Center for Ventricular Tachycardia Research

Innovations in Mapping Systems

As high-resolution mapping continues to improve VT treatment and outcomes, our team is among worldwide leaders in investigating the use of the most advanced mapping systems available. Mapping is essential to localize the areas that are most likely to cause arrhythmias. By using various strategies, mapping can be performed during a VT episode that is triggered during the procedure.

We are the first group to describe that some types of ventricular tachycardia have dimensions that are less than 1 cm, which highlights the need to examine and map the arrhythmias in high detail. Learn more about the different applications of mapping technology at UChicago Medicine:

• High-density grid catheter is used to detailed mapping of scar-related VT
• Direct and indirect mapping to accurately determine the location of VT
• Evaluating mapping approaches to determine the best mapping style for VT
• Ultra-high density mapping can identify additional arrhythmia targets for ablation
• Novel voltage-independent, high-density mapping identifies VT during sinus rhythm for targeted ablation
• Combining mapping techniques for a patient-tailored approach can improve the effectiveness of ablation
• 3D perspectives from simultaneous endocardial and epicardial mapping provides enhances precision of ablation therapy for ventricular tachycardia

Selecting the Best Treatment

Each patient is unique, which means we know that there is no “one-size-fits-all” treatment for ventricular tachycardia. Our team thoroughly analyzes new and existing treatments to make sure we can be certain which opinions will give you long-term success. Read about how researching how specific approaches can improve the outcomes of therapies for VT:

• Determined whether combined endocardial-epicardial ablation is better than endocardial ablation alone for patients with scar-related ventricular tachycardia
• Used left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) to improve survival in ventricular tachycardia patients with heart failure
• Concluded that ventricular tachycardia radiofrequency ablation can be safely performed heart failure patients.
• Performed ventricular tachycardia ablation after an electrical storm (recurrent episodes of ventricular arrhythmias) to reduce the number of electrical storms and improve quality of life for VT patients

Importance of Outcomes Data

Because outcomes data is just as important as the treatment itself, we consider current, accurate outcomes data the cornerstone of successful care. Our team regularly studies outcomes information in order to offer the best solution(s) to each patient and we have a dedicated prospective ablation registry that tracks the safety and efficacy of all procedures done at UChicago. Learn more about how outcomes data impacts you:

• Recording the results of catheter ablation in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy is shown to reduce recurrence of VT
• Documenting the outcomes of using catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in non-ischemic heart disease (patients without coronary artery disease)
• Tracking promising successes of ventricular tachycardia patients with repeated ablation therapy

Clinical Trials for Ventricular Tachycardia

UChicago Medicine physicians and researchers are actively leading clinical trials for new and better treatments for ventricular tachycardia. Our experts are using clinical trials to transform basic research into bedside care so we can offer our patients the benefits of novel therapies before they are widely available. Learn more about our clinical trials.