PeAF-BOX: Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of PVI + Box Ablation in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation — PeAF-BOX  

Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Trial

Official title: PeAF-Box. A Study to Investigate the Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of Isolating the Left Atrial Posterior Wall Adjunctive to Pulmonary Vein Isolation as First-line Therapeutical Strategy in Treatment of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Title: PeAF-Box. Feasibility, Safety and Efficacy of Isolating the Left Atrial Posterior Wall (PWI) added to Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) as First-Line Strategy in Treatment of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (PeAF)

Design: A prospective, observational, single center, unblinded, clinical study with 3 years of follow-up and two interventional procedures: An index ablation procedure and a reassessment/ reablation procedure after 6 months.

Background: In patients with PeAF the effect of first-line ablation with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is smaller than in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), where PVI alone is effective in reducing symptoms and increasing quality of life. Adding PWI to PVI is increasingly used despite concerns about safety and efficacy.

Objectives: (1) To use PVI + PWI as first-line ablation-strategy in participants with PeAF and to assess the feasibility of obtaining that goal. (2) To assess the safety of applying this lesion set - in terms of heat-induced injury to the esophagus - using esophagoscopy. 3) To asses arrhythmia burden using continuous monitoring for 3 years after ablation. (4) To assess the durability of the PVI + PWI lesion set by a relook/ reablation procedure after 6 months. (5) To follow the effect of PVI + PWI on participants' quality of life over three years.

Study site: Dept of Cardiology - Electrophysiology Laboratory, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen.

Study population: 24 patients referred for ablation of PeAF are asked for informed consent for these elements that surpass standard treatment in PeAF: (1) Taking amiodarone for 3 weeks prior to the index procedure to 3 weeks after the procedure, (2) Additional ablation with PWI compared to standard first-line therapy with PVI only. (3) Implantation of an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM), (4) Post-procedure esophagoscopy, (5) Regular clinic visits for 3 years post procedure, (6) Undergoing an interventional relook/ reablation procedure 6 months after the index procedure.

Anticoagulation drugs during the procedure and follow up: To prevent thromboses participants are prescribed periprocedural oral anticoagulant treatment to be continued for shorter or longer/lifelong periods according to the participants' risk of thrombosis (the CHA2DS2-VASC score).

Anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs): Except from periprocedural amiodarone treatment, no AADs are allowed during the follow-up apart from occurrence of otherwise untreatable arrhythmias.

Clinical Trial Description

n/a

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Atrial Fibrillation

• NCT number: NCT05045131
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University Hospital, Gentofte, Copenhagen
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: March 17, 2016
• Completion date: November 14, 2020