International Multicenter Project Comparing Radiofrequency Ablation Versus Implantable Defibrillator After Well-tolerated Ventricular Tachycardia in Ischemic Heart Disease With Minimally Impaired Ejection Fraction

Evidence for the usefulness of the defibrillator in cases of preserved left ventricular ejection fraction and well-tolerated ventricular tachycardia (without cardiocirculatory arrest or syncope) is lacking, as no previous trials have included such patients. Additionally, sudden death in this particular population is low compared to other subgroups of patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. On the other hand, numerous recent retrospective data show that ablation of ventricular tachycardia can reduce mortality, and also clearly reduces the number of recurrences in prospective studies. Finally, a very low rate of sudden death was observed in a multicenter European retrospective study that we conducted, including patients with well-tolerated ventricular tachycardia in structural heart disease with minimally impaired ejection fraction and benefiting from ablation without implantation of defibrillator.