Expert consensus on acute management of ventricular arrhythmias - VT network Austria

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Electrophysiology
• Health Systems Management

Background:

• Ventricular arrhythmias (VA), including ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), require systematic acute care.
• Current ESC guidelines recommend acute ablation for specific VA cases like scar-associated incessant VT, electrical storm (ES), and ischemic cardiomyopathy (iCMP) with recurrent ICD shocks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically structure and organize the acute care of patients with VA in Austria.
• To establish national recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of VA.
• To implement organizational measures for guideline adherence, including the creation of a VT network.

Main Methods:

• Development of a consensus paper outlining national recommendations for VA diagnosis and treatment.
• Definition of organizational aspects for an acute VT network.
• Categorization of participating centers into primary and secondary VT centers based on predefined criteria.

Main Results:

• National recommendations for basic diagnostic work-up (ECG, history, labs, echo, etc.) and further treatment (coronary angiography, ablation) for VA have been established.
• An organizational framework for an acute VT network across Austria, comprising primary and secondary VT centers, has been defined.
• Integration of all Austrian electrophysiology centers involved in VT ablation into the network is planned.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of a structured VT network is crucial for implementing current guidelines on acute VA care.
• A collaborative network of primary and secondary VT centers will enhance the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias.
• Standardized diagnostic and therapeutic pathways are essential for improving outcomes in acute VA cases.