The PIVATAL Study -Study of Ventricular Arrhythmia (VTA) Ablation in Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Patients (PIVATAL)

The PIVATAL Study -Study of Ventricular Arrhythmia (VTA) Ablation in Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Patients

To investigate the effect of VTA ablation at the time of LVAD implant to see if it can reduce the incidence of VTA after surgery

This study is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized-controlled clinical trial enrolling 100 patients who are LVAD candidates with a history of VTA who will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to intra-operative VTA ablation vs. conventional medical management. Comprehensive data on arrhythmia history, medication history will be collected in all randomized subjects. Antiarrhythmic medical therapy will be handled in a uniform pattern between the two arms. Randomized subjects will then be followed per routine schedules for post LVAD implant. Arrhythmia data, ICD therapy, additional procedures including repeat surgery, ramp echocardiographic tests, right heart catheterization and catheter-based VTA ablation will be collected. In addition, adverse events such as unplanned hospitalizations, emergency department visits, clinic visits, and all other aspects of health care utilization will be gathered. The planned average follow-up period will be 18 months.

Subjects will get ablation procedure as needed if they were determined to be refractory to medical antiarrhythmic control should undergo catheter-based electrophysiology study and ablation on LVAD support

To ensure uniformity in control arm, a standardized AAD regimen is recommended among subjects randomized to the medical management control arm. Subjects who are already on a stable AAD regimen, such as amiodarone, sotalol or dofetilide, these should be continued

For surgical intra-operative ablation, efforts will be made to identify scarred myocardium based on methods such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear scans, and/or echocardiogram. Electrophysiological mapping may be obtained either pre-surgery or intra-operation. Mapping and ablation will be performed with the currently approved and updated mapping and ablation systems available at each center. Voltage mapping of the ventricle(s) to delineate scars will be carried out through electroanatomic mapping

To ensure uniformity in control arm, a standardized AAD regimen is recommended among subjects randomized to the medical management control arm. Subjects who are already on a stable AAD regimen, such as amiodarone, sotalol or dofetilide, these should be continued

Post LVAD implant until end of follow-up, through study completion, an average of 18 months (minimum 6 months)

Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by medical records for hospitalization, stroke and heart failure.

Number of participants with any of the following: hospitalization, stroke or right heart failure. Right heart failure assessed by Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) criteria.

Inclusion Criteria: Age > 18 years Presence of advanced cardiomyopathy (of all INTERMACS classification) and eligible for LVAD implant per the decision of the Heart Failure clinical team Implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) any time in past with remote monitoring or planned to undergo ICD (or ICM as an alternative, if an ICD cannot be implanted for a clinical reason) implant within the index hospitalization for LVAD implant History of treated or monitored sustained (i.e., >30 seconds in duration ) VT or VF episode within the past 5 years. Exclusion Criteria: Past successful VTA ablation without recurrent VTA prior to LVAD implant (Patients who continue to experience VTA post ablation and pre LVAD implant qualify to be enrolled) Participation in other clinical trials (observational registries are allowed with approval) Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent