Using real-world data from health systems to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a catheter to treat ischemic ventricular tachycardia

Background The ThermoCool STSF catheter is used for ablation of ischemic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in routine clinical practice, although outcomes have not been studied and the catheter does not have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for this indication. We used real-world health system data to evaluate its safety and effectiveness for this indication. Methods Among patients undergoing ischemic VT ablation with the ThermoCool STSF catheter pooled across two health systems (Mercy Health and Mayo Clinic), the primary safety composite outcome of death, thromboembolic events, and procedural complications within 7 days was compared to a performance goal of 15%, which is twice the expected proportion of the primary composite safety outcome based on prior studies. The exploratory effectiveness outcome of rehospitalization for VT or heart failure or repeat VT ablation at up to 1 year was averaged across health systems among patients treated with the ThermoCool STSF vs. ST catheters. Results Seventy total patients received ablation for ischemic VT using the ThermoCool STSF catheter. The primary safety composite outcome occurred in 3/70 (4.3%; 90% CI, 1.2–10.7%) patients, meeting the pre-specified performance goal, p = 0.0045. At 1 year, the effectiveness outcome risk difference (STSF-ST) at Mercy was − 0.4% (90% CI: − 25.2%, 24.3%) and at Mayo Clinic was 12.6% (90% CI: − 13.0%, 38.4%); the average risk difference across both institutions was 5.8% (90% CI: − 12.0, 23.7). Conclusions The ThermoCool STSF catheter was safe and appeared effective for ischemic VT ablation, supporting continued use of the catheter and informing possible FDA label expansion. Health system data hold promise for real-world safety and effectiveness evaluation of cardiovascular devices.