Ablation or Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Treatment (FAST)

Atrial Fibrillation: Ablation or Surgical Treatment; A Randomized Study Comparing Non-pharmacologic Therapy in Patients With Drug-refractory Atrial Fibrillation

The purpose of this study is to compare 2 invasive strategies for Atrial Fibrillation treatment, Endocardial catheter ablation isolation of the Pulmonary veins versus minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgical epicardial isolation. Both strategies are in use for several years now, and have been reported as a successful strategy with success rates of 60-90%. However, it is not known which technique is preferable in a given patient population in terms of efficacy to cure AF, safety, or patient discomfort. Therefore, in the present trial a randomized study is proposed to provide more insight into the relative merits of both techniques

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Catheter Ablation; Procedure: Surgical Ablation

Detailed Description

Atrial Fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting millions of people around the world. It is a large burden on health care resources and may even lead to a shorter life expectancy. Drug treatment has been found insufficient and sometimes even hazardous to the pt. Traditionally, there was only one invasive approach available, being MAZE 3 procedure by means of full open chest cardiac surgery. This was a very invasive approach, limited to only a few skilled surgeons, with insufficient options to treat large pt volume.

With the discovery that AF often is initiated and maintained by electrical instability inside and around the Pulmonary Veins, catheter ablation is now a widely accepted early invasive strategy to cure AF. Success rates of 60% to 90% have been reported, depending on technique employed and the type of AF (Resp, chronic versus paroxysmal)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 120
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Nieuwegein, Netherlands, 3430
    • St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein
• Spain
  • Barcelona, Spain
    • Hospital Clinic Barcelona

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 30 years to 70 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient has a history of symptomatic paroxysmal and/or persistent atrial fibrillation for at least 12 months
• Patient is refractory to or intolerant of at least one antiarrhythmic drug
• Patient has an enlarged atrium >40 mm and/or Patient has a failed previous catheter ablation and/or Patient has additional risk factors such as hypertension, increasing age
• Patient is between 30 and 70 years of age
• Patient is mentally able and willing to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiac ablation or surgical cardiac procedure in the last 3 months
• Previous cardiac tamponade
• Previous stroke or TIA
• Left atrial thrombus
• Left atrial size >65 mm
• Left ventricular ejection fraction <45 %
• Active infection or sepsis
• Pregnancy
• Unstable angina
• Myocardial infarction (MI) within previous 3 months
• Atrial fibrillation is secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, or other reversible or non-cardiovascular cause
• History of blood clotting abnormalities
• Known sensitivity to heparin or warfarin
• Life expectancy is less than 12 months
• Patient is involved in another clinical study involving an investigational drug or device
• Pleural adhesions
• Prior thoracotomy
• Prior cardiac surgery
• Elevated hemi diaphragm

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 1; Catheter RF ablation with complete circumferential ablation around the right and PVs, and additional lines between the lower and upper PVs, and towards the mitral valve ring.	Procedure: Catheter Ablation; RF ablation with complete circumferential ablation around the right and PVs, optional additional lines between the lower and upper PVs, and towards the mitral valve ring.
Active Comparator: 2; Minimal invasive thoracoscopic surgery including isolation of the PVs by AtriCure and removal of the LAA.	Procedure: Surgical Ablation; Minimal invasive thoracoscopic surgery including isolation of the PVs by AtriCure and removal of the LAA.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Freedom from AF and/or secondary left atrial arrhythmias, lasting >60 sec, as determined by 7 day continuous Holter monitoring.	6 months
Safety and/or adverse events	6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Freedom of AADs, Decrease in the frequency and duration of AF episodes, Decrease in the number of AF related hospital admissions, Improvement in quality of life internet Follow Up, Decrease in number of cardioversions, PM implant	6 and 12 Months
Composite major complications, Serious Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Effects	12 Months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: St. Antonius Hospital
• Collaborators: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; AtriCure, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lucas Boersma, MD/PhD, St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein; Principal Investigator: WimJan van Boven, MD, St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein; Principal Investigator: Lluis Mont, MD, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona; Principal Investigator: Castella M, MD, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Boersma LV, Castella M, van Boven W, Berruezo A, Yilmaz A, Nadal M, Sandoval E, Calvo N, Brugada J, Kelder J, Wijffels M, Mont L. Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation versus surgical ablation treatment (FAST): a 2-center randomized clinical trial. Circulation. 2012 Jan 3;125(1):23-30. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.074047. Epub 2011 Nov 14.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: May 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): January 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 17, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): April 21, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 20, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 18, 2015
• Last Verified: November 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Atrial Fibrillation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Atrial Fibrillation
• Other Study ID Numbers: R-06.30A/FAST