HIgh Power Short Duration Radiofrequency Ablation or Cryoballoon Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (HIPAF)

HIgh Power Short Duration Radiofrequency Ablation or Cryoballoon Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation - the HIPAF Trial

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using the cryoballoon has been proven equal to RF-PVI and is widely used. High Power Short Duration Ablation in RF-PVI has been successfully tested in several trials. Prospective data comparing both strategies is lacking.

This trial will compare acute success rates, safety and foremost long-term outcome of two different PVI strategies (HPSD-PVI vs. cryo-PVI).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation; Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation; Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Ablation

Detailed Description

In several trials and real-life data pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using the cryoballoon technique has been proven equal to RF-PVI for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Due to the "single-shot character" of the device and shorter procedure times the cryoballoon is being widely used for PVI within the last years. However, additional endpoints such as "non-excitability" of the ablation line and consecutive arrhythmias may not be targeted properly by this device also lacking a detailed contact map to evaluate potential fibrotic areas.

For the past decade, the use of RF energy for successful PVI has been the "gold standard". However, ablation time and potential gaps within the circumferential ablation line are still an issue. High power (70 Watts) over short duration (7s) (HPSD) is a recently introduced RF-PVI concept. It has been shown to be as effective as conventional RF-PVI with equal safety features, shorter procedure durations and a superior long-term outcome. Therefore, HPSD-PVI in combination with the endpoint of "non-excitability" is potentially superior with regard to freedom of atrial arrhythmia during long-term FU compared to cryo-PVI with similar procedure times.

So far, randomized prospective data comparing HPSD versus cryo-PVI are lacking.

The aim of this prospective randomized study is to compare acute success rates, safety and foremost long-term outcome of two different PVI strategies (HPSD-PVI vs. cryo-PVI):

1. To find the safest and most effective treatment strategy for PAF patients. 2. To evaluate the risk of complications for both treatment strategies.

3. Evaluation of procedure endpoints like duration, costs and radiation dose.

The present study is a mono-center prospective randomized study enrolling 170 patients with PAF and no prior Ablation for AF.

Patients will be randomized to one of the following groups. Group A: Cryo-Ablation PVI will be performed using a Cryo-balloon. Group B: High-Power-Short-Duration PVI will be performed using HPSD RF-ablation. (70W over 5s posterior and 7s anterior) Catheter ablation procedures will be performed with commercially available devices including 3D mapping systems (EnSite, Abbott) and irrigated radiofrequency current (RFC) ablation or cryothermal balloon ablation (Arctic Front Advance Pro, Medtronic).

The study shall start enrolling patients in April 2021. The last patient shall be enrolled in January 2023. Since follow-up is 12 months, end of study is planned for January 2024.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 170
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Jonas Wörmann; Phone Number: +4917699992357; Email: jonas.woermann@uk-koeln.de
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Arian Sultan, PD Dr.; Phone Number: +4922147832396; Email: arian.sultan@uk-koeln.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • NRW
    • Cologne, NRW, Germany, 50937
      • Recruiting
      • Department of electrophysiology, Heart Center Cologne, University of Cologne
      • Contact: Jonas Wörmann, MD; Phone Number: +4922147832396; Email: jonas.woermann@uk-koeln.de
      • Contact: Arian Sultan, Priv.-Doz.; Phone Number: +4922147832396; Email: arian.sultan@uk-koeln.de

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 14 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Symptomatic non-valvular atrial fibrillation with no prior ablation with an indication for re-ablation according to current guidelines.
• Age 18-85 years.
• Patient is able to provide informed consent and is willing to comply with the study protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindications for left atrial ablation
• History of interventional or surgical AF-ablation
• History of stroke during the past 12 months
• BMI >40kg/m2
• History of mitral valve surgery
• Severe mitral valve regurgitation
• Inability to be treated with oral anticoagulation
• Presence of intracardiac thrombi
• Contraindication or absolute indication for one of the two strategies
• Pregnancy
• Participation in other clinical studies
• Unwilling to follow the study protocol and to attend follow-up visits

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: Cryo-Ablation; Cryo-Balloon (Arctic Front Advance ProTM, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) will be advanced to the LA and navigated to the PV's using an inner-lumen circular mapping catheter (Achieve AdvanceTM, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). After confirming complete PV sealing by the CB using occlusion angiograms cryothermal energy will be applied for min 120 seconds aiming at PV isolation of all PV's according to the clinical standard.	Procedure: Ablation; The ablation procedure will be performed during deep sedation using midazolam, fentanyl and a continuous infusion of propofol. Vital parameters will be monitored. For catheter access three 8F sheaths will be inserted into the femoral veins. A multipolar diagnostic catheter will be placed in the coronary sinus. Single transseptal puncture and insertion of a 8.5 F transseptal sheath or 12F Cryo-Sheath (FlexCath AdvanceTM, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) will be followed by PV angiographies. Before or shortly after transseptal puncture unfractionated heparin will be repeatedly administered to maintain an activated clotting time between 250 and 400s.
Active Comparator: High Power Short Duration-Ablation; A detailed electroanatomical map of the left atrium during sinus rhythm will be acquired using Ensite (Abbott, St. Paul, MN, USA). Upon completion of the LA map, a second transseptal puncture will be performed in order to insert an ablation catheter. To achieve antral PVI irrigated radiofrequency current ablation will be performed using a power of 70W and a flush rate of 8-30ml/min with a duration of 5 seconds for the anterior and 7 seconds for the posterior LA. Ablation catheters used will contain Flexibilty (Abbott, St. Paul, MN, USA) and TactiFlex (Abbott, St. Paul, MN, USA).	Procedure: Ablation; The ablation procedure will be performed during deep sedation using midazolam, fentanyl and a continuous infusion of propofol. Vital parameters will be monitored. For catheter access three 8F sheaths will be inserted into the femoral veins. A multipolar diagnostic catheter will be placed in the coronary sinus. Single transseptal puncture and insertion of a 8.5 F transseptal sheath or 12F Cryo-Sheath (FlexCath AdvanceTM, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) will be followed by PV angiographies. Before or shortly after transseptal puncture unfractionated heparin will be repeatedly administered to maintain an activated clotting time between 250 and 400s.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Recurrence of atrial arrhythmia	Combined primary endpoint of recurrent atrial arrhythmia, onset of new AAD or re- ablation of atrial arrhythmia during the follow-up of 12 months after a 3-months blanking period.	12 months after a 3 months blanking period

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Periprocedural complications	Incidence of peri-procedural complications such as: major bleeding requiring intervention, phrenic nerve palsy, pericardial tamponade, thrombembolic events, death.	Within 48 hours of procedure
Number of re-hospitalisations	Number of re-hospitalisations (total and for cardiovascular reasons)	12 months after a 3 months blanking period
Cardioversions	Number of electrical cardioversions	12 months after a 3 months blanking period
Procedural data	Procedure duration, radiation dose, radiation duration	During the procedure

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universitätsklinikum Köln
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Arian Sultan, PD Dr., University of Cologne, Heart Center, Dept. of Electrophysiology; Principal Investigator: Daniel Steven, Prof. Dr., University of Cologne, Heart Center, Dept. of Electrophysiology

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kuck KH, Brugada J, Furnkranz A, Metzner A, Ouyang F, Chun KR, Elvan A, Arentz T, Bestehorn K, Pocock SJ, Albenque JP, Tondo C; FIRE AND ICE Investigators. Cryoballoon or Radiofrequency Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2016 Jun 9;374(23):2235-45. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1602014. Epub 2016 Apr 4.
• Kirchhof P, Benussi S, Kotecha D, Ahlsson A, Atar D, Casadei B, Castella M, Diener HC, Heidbuchel H, Hendriks J, Hindricks G, Manolis AS, Oldgren J, Popescu BA, Schotten U, Van Putte B, Vardas P; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS. Eur Heart J. 2016 Oct 7;37(38):2893-2962. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehw210. Epub 2016 Aug 27. No abstract available.
• Murray MI, Arnold A, Younis M, Varghese S, Zeiher AM. Cryoballoon versus radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Res Cardiol. 2018 Aug;107(8):658-669. doi: 10.1007/s00392-018-1232-4. Epub 2018 Mar 21.
• Kottmaier M, Popa M, Bourier F, Reents T, Cifuentes J, Semmler V, Telishevska M, Otgonbayar U, Koch-Buttner K, Lennerz C, Bartkowiak M, Kornmayer M, Rousseva E, Brkic A, Grebmer C, Kolb C, Hessling G, Deisenhofer I. Safety and outcome of very high-power short-duration ablation using 70 W for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Europace. 2020 Mar 1;22(3):388-393. doi: 10.1093/europace/euz342.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): August 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 20, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 20, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): April 22, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 26, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: atrial fibrillation; pulmonary vein isolation; high power short duration; cryo-ablation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Atrial Fibrillation
• Other Study ID Numbers: HIPAF-21

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