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553 active trials for Atrial Fibrillation

Intracardiac Versus Transesophageal Echocardiography for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Combined With Radiofrequency Ablation

A total of 60 patients with atrial fibrillation were scheduled to receive left atrial appendage occlusion combined with radiofrequency ablation, which were divided into two groups. The operation was performed under the guidance of intracardiac echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography respectively (allocation ratio 1:1). During the operation, the total amount of contrast medium injected, the fluoroscopy time and the time from femoral vein puncture to transseptal puncture to closure were recorded in all patients. All patients underwent transesophageal echocardiography before and 3 months after operation, and the results were explained by two experienced ultrasound doctors to measure the presence of left atrial thrombus, residual shunt and device-related thrombus. All patients were examined by transthoracic echocardiography 3 months after operation to evaluate new pericardial effusion, pericardial tamponade, instrument embolization / displacement and so on. The baseline clinical and surgical features and hospitalization outcomes of patients guided by ICE and TEE were recorded and compared. Clinical endpoints include death, new pericardial effusion that does not require pericardiocentesis, tamponade with pericardiocentesis, instrument embolism / displacement, bleeding at the entry site, thromboembolic events (stroke / transient ischemic attack [TIA]), and renal failure requiring dialysis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of intracardiac echocardiographic (ICE)-guided and transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE)-guided left atrial appendage occlusion combined with radiofrequency ablation. And try to analyze whether intracardiac echocardiography can be used as an alternative to transesophageal echocardiography in transcatheter closure of left atrial appendage. The average follow-up time was 1 year.

Start: April 2021
Cryoballoon Ablation Versus Medical Therapy in Patients With Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation

Rationale: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) can cause each other and sustain each other. Combined, the two diseases negatively influence each other's prognosis and lead to higher mortality. Studies in HF patients in which the AF burden is reduced by AF ablation show promising results toward improved prognosis, but so far only one randomized trial is conducted that focused on major clinical endpoints. As the selected patients in this trial were not representative for the entire population and its ablation method varied from patient to patient, it is the aim of the present study to confirm that early invasive therapy consisting of a strict pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) protocol using cryoballoon therapy has positive effects on hard clinical endpoints in a wider variety of patients in the HF population. Furthermore, there are no studies which compare cost-effectiveness of an early invasive strategy in this patient category. The investigators expect that avoided hospitalizations and healthcare resource utilizations lead to lower costs in the AF ablation group, despite initial higher costs of the procedure. Objective: To compare outcome and cost-effectiveness of early AF ablation by PVI using cryoballoon therapy with standard (medical) therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Study design: Multicenter, randomized, open label clinical trial. Study population: Symptomatic adult patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (<40%) and paroxysmal or persistent AF. Intervention: AF ablation (PVI) using cryoballoon therapy. Outcome measures: The primary endpoint is a combined endpoint of all-cause mortality, unplanned cardiovascular hospitalization, and stroke (time-to-event analysis). Secondary endpoints of the trial are: A combined endpoint of mortality, number of unplanned cardiovascular hospitalizations, and stroke (recurrent-event analysis); A hierarchical endpoint of mortality, unplanned cardiovascular hospitalizations, stroke, and HF complaints; Cost-effectiveness. Key exploratory endpoints include individual components of the combined endpoints, days alive out of the hospital, hospitalizations for heart failure, recurrence of atrial arrhythmia, and quality of life.

Start: July 2020
Augmented Wide Area Circumferential Catheter Ablation for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an abnormal heart rhythm in which the top chambers of the heart beat very fast. AF catheter ablation is a known technique to convert heart rhythm from AF to normal rhythm. The technique sends out electrical energy through a catheter (long thin round solid tubes) to destroy the heart tissues in a focused area where AF is starting. This technique is practiced at many hospitals, including the Heart Institute, and is not experimental. The AWARE study will compare two techniques of AF catheter ablation: Ablation of tissues in wide circular bands around the opening of the pulmonary veins (bring blood back from lungs) in the left upper chamber of the heart. A medicine called adenosine will be given to unmask any incompletely ablated area. Additional ablations will be given if required. This is standard procedure. Same as above but adenosine will not be used. Instead, additional ablation of a second circular band of tissues around the opening of the pulmonary veins will be given. This additional ablation is not standard procedure and is considered experimental. The Investigators are testing if adding more ablation sites will help maintain normal heart rhythm and reduce the rate of return to AF. The study will compare the occurrence of medical events and complications between the two groups. Identical supplies and equipment used in both techniques have been approved by Health Canada. Adenosine is currently approved by Health Canada for the treatment and diagnosis of arrhythmias. 396 participants from study sites across Canada will be randomly assigned "similar to flipping a coin" to treatment group 1 or group 2. After the ablation, participants will have study follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months. All participant's will be followed for a minimum of 12 months.

Start: March 2015