Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia affecting millions of people in the US and around the world. Over the last 20 years, catheter based AF ablation has been widely adopted offering improved symptom control for many patients worldwide. However, long-term success rates remain suboptimal. Prior work indicates that distal connections between coronary sinus musculature and the left atrium exist and provide a substrate for single or multiple reentry beats as a trigger for atrial fibrillation. In this trial, the investigators will examine the efficacy of elimination of distal connection(s) between coronary sinus and left atrial musculature for suppression of recurrent atrial arrhythmias.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia affecting millions of people in the US and around the world. Over the last 20 years, catheter based AF ablation has been widely adopted. However, long-term success rates fhave been reported to be as low as 50% and 20% for paroxysmal and persistent AF, respectively. To achieve permanent arrhythmia suppression, repeated ablation procedures are often needed. Prior work indicates that distal connections between coronary sinus musculature and the left atrium provide a substrate for single or multiple reentry beats as a trigger for atrial fibrillation. In this prospective randomized trial the investigators will define the efficacy of elimination of distal connections between coronary sinus and left atrial musculature for suppression of recurrent atrial arrhythmias. Patients will be randomly assigned to standard of care ablation (pulmonary vein isolation and non pulmonary vein trigger ablations) alone, or standard of care ablation augmented by distal coronary sinus to left atrial connection elimination.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
35
The AF ablation procedures should follow the sequence below: Diagnostic catheter placement Electrophysiology study; Transseptal puncture; Left atrial electro-anatomical mapping is required prior to an ablation procedure. Post ablation pacing procedure(s) and/or infusion of cardiac medications to localize triggers/ assess and localize pulmonary vein reconnections (e.g., Adenosine, Isoproterenol 2-20 mcg/min). Study procedure requirements are outlined below: Isolation of all pulmonary veins and Non-pulmonary vein trigger ablation for all patients. Linear ablation lines are only required to treat documented macro-reentry atrial tachycardias and limited to the following targets only: LA roof line, mitral valve isthmus line, LA floor line, right atrial carvotricuspid isthmus linear ablation.
Distal coronary sinus pacing will be utilized to localize distal connections between the main coronary sinus body and the left atrium. Focal lesions will be applied to early left atrial activation sites, until no distal coronary sinus to left atrial connections are electrically manifest. If vein of marshall connections to the left atrium are present, differential pacing will be utilized to prove the lack of distal coronary sinus to left atrium connections.
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Recurrence Rate of Atrial Arrhythmias
The primary endpoint of the study is recurrence rate of atrial arrhythmia following ablation. The primary endpoint will be assessed using survival statistical models measuring time to failure among the two study arms. Failure is defined as a non-self-terminating bout of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia \>30 seconds in duration following the 90-day post-ablation blanking period. If no AF occurs during the study period, censoring will occur at 180±45 days post-ablation.
Time frame: Time to atrial arrhythmia recurrence will be recorded as time to the first ECG or monitor that shows atrial arrhythmia recurrence between the end of the blanking period (90 days post ablation) and the end of the study (180±45 days post ablation).
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