EVAC-HF is a Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Study to Compare the Effects on LV Systolic Function Following Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Frequent Premature Ventricular Contraction With Optimized Medical Therapy Alone.
Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) are a very common irregular heart beat (arrhythmias) even in patients without heart disease. Frequent PVCs are thought to occur in about 1-4% of the general population. Many patients with PVCs complain about skipping of their heart (palpitations), shortness of breath and feeling tired. In some patients PVCs may also result in weakening of the heart muscle (heart failure), which might be reversible with suppression of the PVCs.
• Patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF ≤45%) demonstrated by transthoracic echocardiogram and deemed to be non-ischemic by nuclear stress test or cardiac catheterization.
• Patients with \>20% PVCs on 24 hour holter-recording
• Patient is 18 years of age or older
• Optimized medical therapy on stable therapy for minimum 3 months with no changes in beta-blocker, ACE-I/ARB, digoxin doses (varying diuretic doses permitted).