View clinical trials related to Atrial Fibrillation.
Filter by:Researchers are determining whether the use of the Sentinel cerebral protection device during atrial fibrillation ablation will affect the occurrence of new cerebral infarcts in brain MRI. We are also studying if laboratory tests can be used to predict the rate of cerebral infarction and microbleeds in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedures with and without use of the Sentinel Device.
In the last 20 years, atrial fibrillation has become one of the leading healthcare burden in Europe and other developed countries. With an ever-increasing prevalence and incidence, atrial fibrillation is expected to remain a significant problem in the near future. Due to numerous detrimental effects atrial fibrillation has on the patient's health, having an efficient and safe treatment is crucial for managing the problem. The gold standard for an atrial fibrillation treatment is a catheter ablation. In typical catheter ablation procedure, triggers in pulmonary veins are addressed with a pulmonary vein isolation- offering a high long-term success rate in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, the same cannot be said for persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. Studies have shown that efficiency of catheter ablation for persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation, including multiple procedures per patient, ranges around 50 %. It is postulated that extrapulmonary vein triggers, such as foci located in the posterior wall of the left atrium, play an important role in initiating and maintaining persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. In the past, to address this issue, a convergent procedure was developed. In convergent procedure an epicardial ablation of posterior wall is performed through a subxyphoid window. Next, an endocardial ablation with an ablation catheter is performed to isolate pulmonary veins. Because the epicardial lesions are applied in the opposite direction and not towards the esophagus, ablation of posterior wall can safely be performed. The procedure offers a high long-term success rate (85%) in patients with persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. However, due to higher associated invasiveness, the convergent procedure carries a higher risk of complications compared with catheter ablation (4 % vs 9 %). With advancements in ablation catheter technology, such as continuous force measurement at the tip of the catheter, the depth and volume of the lesion can be estimated. This information greatly increases the reliability of lesion formation. The operator can thus effectively apply lesions to the posterior wall of the left atrium more safely in regards to the collateral damage to the esophagus. The objectives of the study are: - To compare procedural, safety and efficiency profile of convergent procedure with catheter ablation procedure, both targeting pulmonary veins triggers and triggers located in the posterior wall of the left atrium. - To compare long-term success rate of convergent procedure with catheter ablation procedure, both targeting pulmonary veins triggers and triggers located in the posterior wall of the left atrium.
There is no current accepted and predictably effective ablative therapy for patients with recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after prior pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). This study will compare redo PVI with hybrid epicardial ablation incorporating posterior wall isolation and LAA clip, and redo PVI.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia with an expected rise in prevalence over the next decade. Beyond causing troublesome symptoms AF is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Catheter ablation is a safe treatment which is effective for paroxysmal AF but the success rate for persistent AF remains approximately 50% at 1 year. A new mapping technique, called Stochastic Trajectory Analysis of Ranked signals (STAR Mapping™) Method, has recently been developed. In a pilot study, localised sources driving AF were consistently mapped and ablated with excellent acute and long term outcomes. This trial will test the clinical effectiveness of this approach by comparing conventional ablation with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to PVI plus STAR mapping™ guided ablation. We plan to test this through a prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial including 177 patients.
Current international guidelines recommend a three-month blanking period after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). Early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ERAT; comprising of AF, left atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter) is common, occurring in up to 65% of patients, but in the first month is generally thought not to predict long-term AF recurrence, and re-intervention is not recommended. Suggested causes for ERAT include inflammation and arrhythmogenic structural changes caused by ablation lesions. Early, purely inflammatory ERAT would not lead to late AF recurrence as pulmonary vein reconnection is established as the main factor associated with long-term recurrence in paroxysmal AF. Previous studies have shown ERAT in the second to third month (rather than first month) to be a stronger predictor of late AF recurrence, due to presumed reduction in the contribution of the acute inflammatory response after this. Biochemical data have shown that the post-ablation inflammatory phase is usually limited to the first month after both radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (CB) ablation, though inflammatory markers have been shown to be less elevated following CB PVI. Histologically, lesions formed by the two modalities differ significantly. RF lesions are characterised by irregular boundaries and significant disruption to the endothelium, exposing the sub-endothelial layer and resulting in significant and sustained platelet activation, changes which can last for many months. CB lesions on the other hand, are observed as well demarcated and homogenous within one week, with reduced thrombogenicity, which may lead to reduced inflammation. ERAT following CB ablation cannot be accurately predicted by inflammatory response and it is postulated that endothelial function may play a role in the development of ERAT in such patients. Some studies have shown reduced recurrence rate and re-hospitalisation amongst the CB population, including the FIRE and ICE trial, potentially resulting in a better patient experience with CB and the possibility of a shorter blanking period. Post-ablation inflammatory response is more predictive of ERAT following RF than CB PVI, and the latter is considered to be associated with less inflammation. There is however, a paucity of data evaluating endothelial function post-AF ablation and its correlation with ERAT or late recurrences of arrhythmia. Given that earlier re-intervention in patients with ERAT in the third month of the blanking period can result in greater outcomes with respect to late recurrence of AF, if it can be demonstrated that endothelial function testing in the first few months post-CB PVI can be predictive of later ERAT, then shortening the blanking period following CB PVI and performing repeat ablation to control troublesome later ERAT may reduce overall patient morbidity and re-hospitalisation. The purpose of this novel pilot study is to examine the relationship between the post-ablation inflammatory response, endothelial function and timing and frequency of ERAT for patients undergoing RF and CB PVI for paroxysmal or short-lived persistent (less than 6 months' duration) AF. If the initial data provides hypothesis generating information, the aim would be to perform the study on a larger basis with higher statistical power to determine whether early post-ablation endothelial function testing can predict recurrences and identify those suitable for earlier re-intervention.
The objective of this clinical study is to collect additional data on the safety and effectiveness of the EPi- Sense®-AF Guided Coagulation System with VisiTrax® to treat symptomatic persistent or long-standing persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients who are refractory or intolerant to at least one Class I and/or III AAD.
The Assessment of Intravenous Rate Control Response in Atrial Fibrillation Trial Pilot Study (AIRCRAFT Pilot) is a prospective, unblinded, pragmatic, cluster-level allocation trial. AIRCRAFT compares two medication classes commonly used for rate control in patients in atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate (RVR). The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and approach to conducting a trial that compares the use of IV beta blockers and IV calcium channel blockers for patients in AF with RVR in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). AF with RVR is considered when the following parameters are met: (1) Cardiac rhythm consistent with AF (2) Heart rate > 110 bpm. AF with RVR recurrence after conversion to sinus rhythm or prior rate control will count as a new episode of AF with RVR. Rate control agents will be pseudo-randomized to each of the three different MICU teams (beta-blocker, calcium channel blocker and physician preference). Patients are admitted to the three MICU teams on a rotating basis which will allow for pseudo-randomization, the effects of which will be equal between the three teams. Patients will be enrolled in the study if they develop AF with RVR and will be followed until discharge from the MICU. This study aims to assess the adherence and fidelity to treatment assignments in the current novel pilot study protocol which will help inform the feasibility of a larger-scale efficacy trial between IV beta blockers and IV calcium channel blockers for initial management of AF with RVR. Assessment of adherence and fidelity to treatment assignments in management of AF with RVR in the MICU will help inform power calculations and the percent of patients in each study group that received the assigned class of medication will help inform feasibility. Additional aims include assessment of time from medication administration to rate control or sinus conversion as well as identifying optimal means of data extraction (manual vs automated), and incidence of adverse events including hypotension and bradycardia.
Catheter ablation with pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is a commonly performed strategy employed for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The conventional approach for post-procedure care has been for the patient to stay overnight and be discharged the next day. However, the overall incidence of procedure related complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in high volume centers is low. New technologies have been introduced and improve the safety of the ablation procedure. Discharging patients the same day after ablation is a practice that's currently followed by many centers in the United States and abroad. The investigators' hypothesis is that the currently available advanced technologies allow for the same-day safe discharge of patients after catheter ablation. The investigators propose a prospective single-arm study to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the same-day discharge after AF ablation at MGH. The protocol of same-day discharge will include the use of a commercially available venous closure device, early ambulation, bed-side echocardiogram, and follow-up phone calls at day 1 and 3 post-procedure.
Old age, less body weight and deteriorated renal function are significant clinical factors for the outcomes of atrial fibrillation- so called 'fragile'- and these are common risk factors in osteoporosis and fracture. Therefore, in real world, these risk factors and co-morbidities are commonly considered when it comes to prescribe anticoagulant in atrial fibrillation patients. Recent study even reported that comorbid atrial fibrillation in patients with osteoporosis might be associated with an increased risk of bone fracture and death after fracture. Because there have been very few data about the effectiveness/safety of anticoagulant among non-valvular atrial fibrillation with prior osteoporosis/fracture, this study is planned to provide real-world evidences for this specific type of non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients.
Atrial fibrillation is a serious public health issue that affects over 5 million Americans in whom it may cause skipped beats, dizziness, stroke and even death. This study seeks to improve our understanding of the causes of atrial fibrillation and to design new and more effective therapy for this heart rhythm disorder.