escalated antiarrhythmic therapy

Escalated antiarrhythmic therapy refers to a specific pharmacological treatment protocol used as a comparator arm in the VANISH (Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation or Escalated aNtiarrhythmic Drugs in ISchemic Heart Disease) clinical trial, led by Dr. John Sapp. This regimen is designed for patients with ischemic heart disease and recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) who have failed first-line antiarrhythmic drug therapy. The protocol involves either initiating or increasing the dose of amiodarone (a class III antiarrhythmic) or adding mexiletine (a class Ib antiarrhythmic) to high-dose amiodarone. The goal of this escalated approach is to suppress recurrent VT episodes and ICD shocks by maximizing pharmacological suppression before or instead of proceeding to catheter ablation.

Other names

escalated antiarrhythmic drug therapyVANISH trial escalated therapy