Clinical Applicable Pacing Therapies in VT (CAPT –VT)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigation of the physiological mechanisms through which ventricular tachycardia(VT) impairs cardiac function and exploration of potential clinical applicable pacing therapy to improve cardiac output during VT
IRAS ID
192617
Contact name
Daniel Keene
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 1 months, 7 days
Research summary
Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a potentially life threatening heart rhythm disturbance. VT reduces the hearts ability to pump efficiently and therefore reduces cardiac output.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD’s) have been shown to be lifesaving for those at risk of developing ventricular arrhythmia. They have two treatments available to return the heart to a normal rhythm (1)Anti tachycardia pacing therapy (ATP) which is a form of pacing therapy and (2)the devices can also deliver a shock in an attempt to return the heart back to a normal rhythm.
While these therapies have been shown to be lifesaving they can be very uncomfortable and may sometimes cause harm to patients. Reducing unnecessary and inappropriate shocks has been shown to be beneficial both for patient’s quality of life and life expectancy. However, delaying therapy has the disadvantage that patients may be symptomatic due to the effects of a reduced cardiac output. Symptoms include dizziness, altered consciousness and chest discomfort.
This study aims to develop a new type of therapy, which supports the heart’s function and pumping capability during a VT episode. The aim this new therapy is to allow the number of potentially harmful shocks and ATP therapies to be safely reduced, since improving cardiac function during VT would be expected to reduce the occurrence of aforementioned symptoms which can occur during untreated VT.
In this mechanistic study we will establish precisely how ventricular tachycardia (VT) impairs heart function. This information will then be used to develop the treatment aimed to improve heart function during VT.
If the experiments are successful, this it is likely to lead the new treatment being incorporated into Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators. This would allow longer term studies addressing outcome measures such as quality of life and mortality to be performed.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0339
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion