Noninducibility of VT after VT ablation is associated with improved arrhythmia-free survival and all-cause mortality
BACKGROUND Although ventricular tachycardia ( VT ) ablation is a widely used therapy for patients with VT , the ideal end points for this procedure are not well defined .
We performed a meta- analysis of the published literature to assess the predictive value of noninducibility of postinfa rct ion VT for long-term outcomes after VT ablation .
Cost-effectiveness of catheter ablation in patients with ventricular tachycardia.
BACKGROUND This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of catheter ablation therapy versus amiodarone for treating ventricular tachycardia ( VT ) in patients with structural heart disease . The analysis used a societal perspective for a hypothetical cohort of VT patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators , who were experiencing frequent shocks . METHODS AND RESULTS We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness of ablation relative to amiodarone over 5 years after treatment initiation . Event probabilities were from the Chilli r and omized clinical trial ( Chilli Cooled Ablation System , Cardiac Pathways Corporation , Sunnyvale , Calif ) , the literature , and a consensus panel . Costs were from 1998 national Medicare reimbursement schedules . Quality -of-life weights ( utilities ) were estimated using an established preference measurement technique . In a hypothetical cohort of 10 000 patients , 5-year costs were higher for patients undergoing ablation compared with amiodarone therapy ( $ 21 795 versus $ 19 075 ) . Ablation also produced a greater increase in quality of life ( 2.78 versus 2.65 quality -adjusted life-years [ QALYs ] ) . This yielded a cost-effectiveness ratio of $ 20 923 per QALY gained for ablation compared with amiodarone . Results were relatively insensitive to assumptions about ablation success and durability . In less severe patients with good ejection fractions who suffer their first VT episode , the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $ 6028 per QALY gained . These cost-effectiveness ratios are within the range generally thought to warrant technology adoption . CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that , from a societal perspective , catheter ablation appears to be a cost-effective alternative to amiodarone for treating VT patients
Noninducibility of VT after VT ablation is associated with improved arrhythmia-free survival and all-cause mortality
BACKGROUND Although ventricular tachycardia ( VT ) ablation is a widely used therapy for patients with VT , the ideal end points for this procedure are not well defined .
We performed a meta- analysis of the published literature to assess the predictive value of noninducibility of postinfa rct ion VT for long-term outcomes after VT ablation .