- ICH GCP
- US Clinical Trials Registry
- Clinical Trial NCT01385358
Catheter Versus Thoracoscopic Surgical Ablation Strategy in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (CASA-AF)
A Study to Assess Catheter Ablation Versus Thoracoscopically Assisted Surgical Ablation in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation(AF)is the commonest arrhythmia worldwide and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, posing an increasing public health burden. Restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) is the preferred strategy in symptomatic patients but outcomes with anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) are poor. The alternatives to AAD are two-fold.Firstly, catheter ablation (CA)- a technique that uses catheters (thin tubes) to deliver small 'heat lesions' to areas of the heart to eliminate AF. Secondly, surgical ablation, where multiple incisions are made in the atria to restore SR. Long term results from this traditional surgical approach are excellent however as it is technically difficult open-heart procedure with significant morbidity and mortality, it is seldom used.
CA is very effective in restoring SR in the early stages of AF when it is a paroxysmal (intermittent) rhythm disturbance. If not treated at this stage AF inevitably evolves into a more persistent or permanent state and becomes more difficult to treat with CA. Therefore, the optimum approach to treat patients with symptomatic long standing persistent AF has yet to be determined and remains a key area of on-going research.
New minimally invasive, thoracoscopically assisted surgical(closed-heart)approaches have recently developed which ablate a wide area around the pulmonary veins, and may offer advantages over the best current strategies in CA. There are also clear advantages for patients with greater safety and less discomfort when compared to traditional surgical open-heart procedures.
At present there is small amount of encouraging data on this thoracoscopic surgical technique but there is no data comparing these two modalities of treatment in persistent AF patients. The investigators therefore wish to prospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of this thoracoscopic surgical technique and compare with CA in this group of patients. MRI scanning will also be used to visualise the effects of ablation by analysis of scar formation.
The study hypothesises that thoracoscopics surgical ablation is a
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Intervention / Treatment
Detailed Description
This will be a pilot, prospective, observational study of catheter ablation compared with thoracoscopically assisted, surgical ablation strategies using a case control design.
The study population will be patients between the ages of 18 and 80 with symptomatic long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (≥1≤5 years) and good left ventricular function where at least one anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) has failed, or where such drugs are contraindicated or not tolerated.
Thoracoscopically Assisted Surgical Ablation Group Patients assigned to this group will undergo minimally invasive, thoracoscopically assisted, surgical ablation to isolate the pulmonary veins (PVI) using a radiofrequency (RF) clamp device. This will include ganglionated plexi ablation +/- LAA excision/exclusion.
Catheter Ablation Group Patients will undergo pulmonary vein isolation, linear and electrogram based ablation.
Recurrences Only one redo procedure is allowed for atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences in the 12 month follow-up period.
Study Type
Enrollment (Anticipated)
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
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Greater London
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London, Greater London, United Kingdom, SW3 6NP
- Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥18 years and ≤ 80
- Symptomatic persistent AF (≥1≤5 years), refractory to at least 1 AAD and/or DCCV
- Patient is legally competent and willing and able to sign informed consent form
- Patient is willing and able to adhere to follow up visit protocols for the duration of the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%
- Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (contraindicates MRI imaging)
- Contraindication to anticoagulation
- Thrombus in the LA despite anticoagulation
- CVA within the previous 6 months
- Previous thoracic & cardiac surgery (including interventions for AF such as Cox-maze procedure)
- Prior LA catheter ablation with the intention to treat AF
- Prior AV nodal ablation
- Patients actively participating in another research study will be not be permitted to enrol. Patients who have been involved with other research studies will be able to participate after a minimum period of 3 months after completion of prior study follow up.
- Co-morbid condition that in opinion of investigator confers undue risk of GA or thoracoscopic surgery.
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Non-Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Single
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Thoracoscopically Assisted Surgical Ablation
This arm will have an index thoracoscopically assisted surgical ablation.
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Surgical AF ablation including pulmonary vein isolation, gananglionated plexi ablation +/- LAA excision/exclusion.
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Active Comparator: Catheter Ablation
This is an active comparator arm where study subjects will undergo conventional catheter ablation.
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In this arm, study subjects will undergo conventional catheter ablation as their index procedure.
This will include pulmonary vein isolation, linear and electrogram based ablation.
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias at 12 months.
Time Frame: 12 months
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Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias at 12 months which will be analysed with or without anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD).
Monitoring will be undertaken with ambulatory ECG monitoring in compliance with latest international guidelines.
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12 months
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Secondary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
---|---|---|
Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias at 12 months from a single procedure on/off AAD;
Time Frame: 12 months
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Only 1 re-do procedure is allowed in study time frame.
But this outcome will look at single procedure success in both arms at 12 months.
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12 months
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Change in AF symptom score
Time Frame: Various time points 0,3,6,9,12 months
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Using recognised AF symptom score scale
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Various time points 0,3,6,9,12 months
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Integrity of ablation lesion after index procedure at 3 months (as assessed by MRI if in SR +/- electrophysiologically if redo procedure is undertaken for atrial arrhythmia recurrence);
Time Frame: 3 months
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Using MRI +/- electrophysiological techniques.
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3 months
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Freedom of serious adverse events (stroke, myocardial infarction, emergency surgery, death) immediately after the procedure and during follow-up.
Time Frame: 12 months
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12 months
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Cost analysis (procedural and hospital stay costs).
Time Frame: 12 months
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Top down cost analysis
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12 months
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Collaborators and Investigators
Investigators
- Principal Investigator: Tom Wong, MD, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start
Primary Completion (Anticipated)
Study Completion (Anticipated)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Estimate)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Estimate)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- 2011CI004B
- 11/SC/0032 (Other Identifier: Oxfordshire REC A Committee)
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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