Pedi CardioRef
Reference: ACC/AHA Sports Participation Recommendations (Circulation 2015) Task Force 9

participate in organized sports?

Should my patient with Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia participate in organized sports?

Sustained Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia


Need to know:

Structrually normal heart, s/p ablation, free of VT >3 months later

"Athletes with structurally normal hearts and monomorphic sustained VT amenable to catheter ablation who undergo ablation and remain free of spontaneous or induced VT at least 3 months after the procedure can resume full competitive activities."

Can resume all sports if above conditions met

(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Structrually normal heart, suppression with medications

"Athletes with structurally normal hearts and monomorphic sustained VT who elect to undergo drug suppression with pharmacological therapy should not compete in any sports for at least 3 months after the last VT episode. In the absence of clinical recurrences or inducibility of the arrhythmia by exercise/exercise testing or EPS, all competitive sports may then be permitted."

No sports for at least 3 months after last VT episode

If no recurrence/inducibility by exercise testing or EP study (> 3 months later), may resume sports

(Class I Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Structural heart disease

"For the athlete with structural heart disease and sustained monomorphic VT, moderate- and high-intensity competition is contraindicated regardless of apparent therapeutic response, although participation in low-intensity class IA competitive sports is permitted."

IA sports only regardless of apparent suppression of VT

Moderate- and high-intensity competition is contraindicated

(Class III Recommendation; Level of Evidence C)

Reference: Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities: Task Force 9. A Scientific Statement From the AHA and ACC. Circulation 2015

Disclaimer: This website is derived from published guidelines, but does not constitute medical advice nor does it replace clinical judgement. Only the text in quotation marks are direct quotations from the original guidelines. Text not in quotations as well as the method of information display are all that of the website creator and are not part of the original published guidelines. Please consult a physician to discuss any patient-specific matters.

Key: VT = ventricular tachycardia, EPS = electrophysiology study