Vein-directed ethanol treatment for ventricular tachycardia after a heart attack
Official title: VENOUS ETHANOL ABLATION IN ISCHEMIC VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA- VELVET TRIAL
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11181174 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This will try putting a small amount of ethanol into veins on the heart to stop dangerous fast rhythms in people with scarring from a prior heart attack.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $691,087 |
| NIH project number | 5R33HL164873-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11181174 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with ischemic cardiomyopathy who have recurrent or ablation-refractory ventricular tachycardia and an identifiable coronary vein near the scar are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose fast rhythms are not caused by ischemic scar, who lack suitable coronary veins near the target area, or who cannot tolerate invasive catheter procedures are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
You would be offered a procedure that uses conventional catheter techniques plus delivery of ethanol into coronary veins that drain the scarred area of your heart. The team targets veins that sit next to the abnormal tissue and nerve fibers thought to trigger ventricular tachycardia. This approach has been used in case reports and registries for patients whose VT did not respond to standard radiofrequency ablation. The research aims to refine procedures, monitor safety, and see if adding venous ethanol reduces recurrent arrhythmias.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce recurrent life-threatening arrhythmias, lower the need for repeat ablation procedures, and improve symptoms and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier case reports and a large multinational registry reported promising safety and effectiveness of venous ethanol for VT that failed radiofrequency ablation, though randomized evidence is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valderrabano, Miguel — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Valderrabano, Miguel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Map heart tissue to guide VT ablation with AI help
A patient-oriented project aims to use AI-based mapping to better identify abnormal heart tissue responsible for ventricular tachycardia and guide safer, faster ablation.
-
Proton SBRT for refractory ventricular tachycardia with real-time 3D/4D imaging
A patient-facing study exploring a proton-based, noninvasive radiation therapy to treat stubborn VT using advanced 3D and 4D imaging to target the heart safely.
-
Venous ethanol ablation to treat ischemic VT (VE-VT)
A new treatment approach uses ethanol delivered through heart veins to help stop dangerous heart rhythms in patients with previous heart damage.
-
Novel gene therapy tools to prevent dangerous heart rhythms
A small grant supports testing gene-therapy methods to stop ventricular tachycardia after a heart attack, with the goal of helping people at risk of sudden heart rhythm problems.
-
Radiation-guided ablation for ventricular tachycardia
This project tests a noninvasive radiation approach to ablate heart tissue in people with dangerous ventricular tachycardia to reduce the need for invasive procedures.
-
Low-Field MRI–Guided Robotic Catheter System for VT Ablation
A research project is testing a new low-field MRI–guided robotic catheter to improve treatment of ventricular tachycardia for patients with abnormal heart structure.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.