EHRA Congress 2026 — Dr Francesco Santoro (University of Foggia, Foggia, IT) joins us to explore how electrophysiologists can approach risk assessment and decision-making when considering catheter ablation in high-risk ventricular tachycardia patients — a population where the potential benefits of ablation must be carefully weighed against procedural complexity and patient frailty.

Interview Questions:

1. How do you define the "high-risk" VT patient, and what are the key characteristics that flag a case as requiring particular care?
2. What does your pre-procedural risk assessment process look like, and which factors carry the most weight in your decision-making?
3. How do you approach the risk-benefit conversation with patients, and what are the most important points to communicate clearly?
4. What role does centre expertise and multidisciplinary input play in managing these cases, and when should referral be considered?
5. Are there patients you would consider too high-risk for ablation — and if so, what are the alternatives?
6. How is advancing technology — substrate mapping, epicardial access, haemodynamic support — changing what's possible in this patient group?
7. What are your key take-home messages for clinicians facing these decisions in routine practice?

Recorded on-site at EHRA Congress 2026, Paris.

Editor: Jordan Rance
Videographer: David Ben-Harosh

Support: This is an independent interview produced by Arrhythmia Academy.