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Pulsed Field Ablation for Post-Infarction Ventricular Tachycardia

Pulse Field Ablation for Post-Infarction Ventricular Tachycardia: the ASCEND Pilot Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06891456
Acronym
ASCEND-VT
Enrollment
40
Registered
2025-03-24
Start date
2025-06-16
Completion date
2028-12-31
Last updated
2026-09-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Ischemic Heart Disease, Sustained VT, Ventricular Tachycardia

Brief summary

ASCEND is a randomized controlled open-label pilot study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of pulsed field ablation (PFA) with the novel FARAPOINT catheter compared to the standard radiofrequency (RFA) ablation with ThermoCool ST/FlexAbility SE/ThermoCool ST SF/TactiFlex SE of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in the patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). The study hypothesis is that the PFA ablation is more efficient compared to the RFA technique but retains a comparable safety profile.

Detailed description

The ASCEND trial is a pilot study that will test the hypothesis that the novel FARAPOINT catheter and the FARAPULSE PFA platform can accomplish ischemic substrate VT ablation more efficiently and with a similar safety profile compared to a contemporary, widely adopted RFA technology (ThermoCool ST/FlexAbility SE/ThermoCool ST SF/TactiFlex SE). ASCEND is a single center, controlled (two-arm), 1:1 parallel-randomized, open-label pilot study of 40 consecutively enrolled patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and drug refractory or drug intolerant VT in whom a catheter ablation procedure is indicated. The study intervention consists of the use of a novel FARAPOINT PFA catheter during the entire VT ablation procedure. Patients randomized to the control arm of the study will undergo VT ablation using a contemporary standard-of-care technology (ThermoCool ST/FlexAbility SE/ThermoCool ST SF/TactiFlex SEcatheters). This pilot study is designed to test for superiority with respect to the primary efficacy metric and to ensure comparable safety profiles of both ablation methods.

Interventions

RFA ablation of VT substrate using FlexAbility or ThermoCool ST catheter

PFA ablation of VT substrate using FARAPOINT catheter

Sponsors

Pasquale Santangeli
Lead SponsorOTHER
Boston Scientific Corporation
CollaboratorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

must meet all of the following: 1. Age ≥18 years. 2. Ischemic heart disease with prior myocardial infarction. 3. Left ventricular ejection fraction ≥20% estimated by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) within 90 days prior to enrollment. 4. Documented sustained monomorphic VT with any of the following characteristics: 1. ≥2documented episodes in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) 2. ≥1 documented episode(s) in patients without ICD 3. Recurrent VT despite antiarrhythmic medications (ineffective, contraindicated or not tolerated) or ICD interventions 5. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form. 6. Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study.

Exclusion criteria

any of the following: 1. Unable to provide informed consent. 2. Idiopathic VT. 3. Mobile LV thrombus. 4. Acute coronary syndrome within the preceding 2 months (if incessant VT ≥1 month before enrollment). 5. Comorbidity likely to limit survival to \<12 months 6. New York Heart Association class IV heart failure. 7. Estimated glomerular filtration rate \<30 ml/min/1.73m2. 8. Thrombocytopenia or coagulopathy. 9. Contraindication to heparin. 10. Pregnancy or lactation. 11. Cardiac surgery within the past 2 months. 12. Active infection. 13. Clinical, laboratory or imaging evidence of active ischemia. 14. Severe left heart valvular heart disease (aortic/mitral stenosis or regurgitation). 15. Any concomitant congenital heart disease. 16. Prior catheter or surgical ablation of VT within the past 2 months. 17. Anticipated need for epicardial mapping and ablation. 18. For individuals with no pre-existing ICD: Ineligibility for an ICD implant. 19. Pre-existing LVAD or other hemodynamic assist device 20. Present mechanical heart valve 21. cardiogenic shock unless it is due to incessant VT

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Procedural EfficiencyPeriproceduralTotal ablation time (in seconds) needed to achieve complete elimination of late abnormal ventricular activities (LAVAs) in myocardial scar.
Procedural SafetyWithin 7 days post procedureCount of individuals who experience any of the following: * Cardiac perforation * Pericardial effusion with hemodynamic compromise or needing intervention * New complete heart block * Coronary spasm * Acute MI * New acute severe mitral regurgitation or aortic regurgitation * Deep venous thrombosis * Vascular injury requiring surgical or percutaneous intervention * Pulmonary embolism * Stroke * Acute kidney injury * Death

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Secondary Safety180 days post procedureChanges in LVEF and/or new wall motion abnormalities at follow-up TTE

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTPasquale Santangeli, MD, PhD
santanp3@ccf.org216-445-1940
CONTACTYuki Kuramochi, BSN, RN
kuramoy@ccf.org216-445-4063
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORPasquale Santangeli, MD, PhD

The Cleveland Clinic

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 4, 2026