Added Value of Vein of Marshal Ethanol Infusion Compared to Superior Vena Cava Isolation Alone in Patients Undergoing Repeat Ablation for Recurrent Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Despite Durable PV Isolation (VEIN-AF)

May 7, 2026 updated by: Sebastien Knecht, AZ Sint-Jan AV

Added Value of Vein of Marshal Ethanol Infusion Compared to Superior Vena Cava Isolation Alone in Patients Undergoing Repeat Ablation for Recurrent Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Despite Durable Pulmonary Vein Isolation

The superior vena cava (SVC) is one of the most common non pulmonary vein (PV)-triggers for atrial tachyarrhythmias. SVC electrical isolation can be reached by circular radiofrequency (RF)-ablation under close monitoring of the phrenic nerve. However, adding substrate modification and vein of Marshal (VoM) ethanol infusion to the ablation procedure might substantially improve long-term outcomes.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the recurrence rate 1 year after the index ablation in patients undergoing a redo ablation for recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) despite durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with either SVC isolation alone or with substrate modification including vein of Marshal ethanolisation in addition to SVC isolation alone

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Belgium
    • Please Select
      • Bruges, Please Select, Belgium, 8000
        • Recruiting
        • AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients older than 18 years
  • Patients scheduled for a repeat ablation of PAF after a previous PVI
  • Confirmation of lasting pulmonary vein isolation at the time of randomization

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation
  • Previous ablation with isolation of the SVC, roofline, mitral line or previous vein of Marshal ethanol infusion
  • Left atrial thrombus. Left atrial appendage thrombus can be determined by preprocedural imaging: CT, transesophageal echocardiography or MRI.
  • Left ventricular ejection fraction <35%.
  • Cardiac surgery within the previous 90 days.
  • Expecting cardiac transplantation or other cardiac surgery within 180 days.
  • Coronary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty/stenting within the previous 90 days or myocardial infarction within the previous 60 days.
  • Documented history of a thromboembolic event within the previous 90 days.
  • Diagnosed atrial myxoma.
  • Significant restrictive, constrictive, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with chronic symptoms.
  • Significant congenital anomaly or medical problem that in the opinion of the investigator would preclude enrollment
  • Women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant during the study.
  • Acute illness or active infection at time of index procedure
  • Advanced renal insufficiency
  • Unstable angina.
  • History of blood clotting or bleeding abnormalities.
  • Contraindication to anticoagulation.
  • Life expectancy less than 1 year.
  • Presence of a condition that precludes vascular access.
  • International Normalized Ratio greater than 3.5 within 24 hours of procedure - for patients taking warfarin.
  • Patient cannot be removed from antiarrhythmic drugs for reasons other than AF.
  • Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: SVC only
Patients in Group 1 will receive an SVC isolation only
Procedure: SVC only
Patients allocated to this arm will receive an RF ablation with the isolation of the SVC alone
Active Comparator: SVC isolation with substrate modification and VoM inf
Patients in Group 2 will receive an SVC isolation with substrate modification and vein of Marshal ethanol infusion
Procedure: SVC isolation with substrate modification and vein of Marshal ethanol infusion
Patients allocated to this arm will receive an RF ablation with the isolation of the SVC, substrate modification and vein of Marshal ethanol infusion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia 1 year after the index ablation
Time Frame: 1 year
Comparison of the prevalence of atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence 1 year after the index ablation between groups
1 year
Safety (complications)
Time Frame: During procedure
Comparison of the number of procedural complications between groups
During procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total procedural time
Time Frame: During procedure
Comparison of the procedural time between groups
During procedure
Fluoroscopy time
Time Frame: During procedure
Comparison of the fluoroscopy time between groups
During procedure
RF ablation time
Time Frame: During procedure
Comparison of the radiofrequency time between groups
During procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
AZ Sint-Jan AV

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Sébastien Knecht, MD, PhD, AZ Sint-Jan AV

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 11, 2020

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 20, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 24, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 28, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 7, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2700

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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