Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Stereotactic radioablation for ventricular tachycardia in patients untreatable by catheter ablation: evidence of efficacy, safety, and impact on coronary arteries
- Prospective cohort study
- single-centre
Authors' conclusion
STAR shows promise as a safe, non-invasive option for patients with refractory VT and advanced cardiomyopathy.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with structural heart disease and recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) unresponsive to conventional therapy, ineligible for ablation
- Participants
- 19 patients
- Exposure
- Before vs after stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR)
- STARn = 19
- Outcome
- Safety (adverse events within 12 months) and efficacy (reduction in VT burden, by ICD-recorded ATP and shocks)
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
VT burden (ICD-recorded ATP and shocks per month), before vs after STAR · median follow-up 14 months [IQR 9-15]
Average decrease in ICD therapies
81%
Mean ATP interventions/month, before → after
4.5 ± 6.5 to 0.8 ± 2.3 (P = 0.029)
Total ICD therapies/month, before → after
4.8 ± 7.0 to 0.9 ± 2.5 (P = 0.032)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
LV function, valvular status, CAD progression (CAD-RADS and PCAT analysis)
- No significant changes
One-year mortality
- One-year mortality
- 33.3%
- Deaths directly attributable to STAR
- 0
Safety
Mild pulmonary injury and pericardial effusion
- Mild pulmonary injury and pericardial effusion
- 22.2%
- Non-urgent pericardiocentesis
- one patient (5.5%)
- Most cases asymptomatic
Original publication
Stereotactic radioablation for ventricular tachycardia in patients untreatable by catheter ablation: evidence of efficacy, safety, and impact on coronary arteries. Europace. Published 10 January 2026. doi:10.1093/europace/euag004
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it