Comparative Effectiveness of Different Techniques for Repeat Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

• Registration Number: NCT06988202
• Lead Sponsor: University of Rochester

Brief Summary

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of irregular heartbeat doctors see. People with AF sometimes have a procedure called an ablation to help get their heart back into a normal rhythm. However, this treatment doesn't always work. This study is looking at whether adding an extra step to the usual ablation-specifically treating another area of the heart called the left atrial (LA) posterior wall-can help people feel better overall, compared to just repeating the standard pulmonary vein isolation ablation procedure.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Study First Submitted: 2025-05-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-15
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-15
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-23
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-23
• Study Start: 2025-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2030-01-01
• Study Completion: 2031-12-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 630

Inclusion Criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years on date of consent
• One prior PVI ablation procedure for persistent AF
• Recurrent paroxysmal or persistent symptomatic AF confirmed on ECG despite prior PVI
• Eligible for repeat ablation procedure
• Willingness to comply with all post-procedural follow-up requirements and to sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Inability to undergo AF catheter ablation (e.g., presence of a left atrial thrombus)
• Prior ablation that included non-PVI LA ablation, or more than one prior PVI ablation procedure for persistent AF
• Prior surgical ablation for AF
• Contraindication to systematic anticoagulation
• LA diameter on echocardiogram > 6.0 cms
• LV ejection fraction < 35%
• NYHA class III-IV congestive heart failure
• Acute coronary syndrome or coronary artery bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention (balloon and/or stent angioplasty) within 3 calendar months prior to consent date
• Enzyme-positive myocardial infarction within the past 3 calendar months prior to consent
• Severe aortic or mitral valvular heart disease eligible for percutaneous or surgical repair/replacement procedures
• Prior valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis
• Angiographic evidence of coronary disease that requires coronary revascularization and with likelihood of undergoing a CABG or PCI in the next 3 calendar months following consent date
• Stroke within 3 calendar months prior to consent date
• Any medical condition likely to limit survival to < 1 year
• Renal failure requiring dialysis at time of consent
• Pregnancy
• History of non-compliance to medical therapy
• Participation in other clinical trials (observational/lead registries are allowed) without approval from the CCRC
• Inability or unwillingness to provide informed consent
• Resides at such a distance from the enrolling site so travel to follow-up visits would be unusually difficult
• Does not anticipate residing in the vicinity of the enrolling site for the duration of the trial

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mean Change of Symptom Score on the Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS)	From Baseline to Month 12	The AFSS is a 19-item self-report instrument measuring atrial fibrillation burden. It includes symptom severity (7 items), frequency/duration (4 items), health care utilization (4 items), and a global well-being visual analog scale. Items are summed into a composite total burden score, ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater symptom burden and healthcare impact.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time to First Atrial Fibrillation Episode Lasting > 30 Seconds	Up to 24 Months Following Randomization	A proportion of patients that experience a first recurrence of atrial fibrillation or any atrial tachyarrhythmia lasting more than 30 seconds after repeat ablation (randomization), detected via monitoring.
Mean Total Atrial Fibrillation Burden from Serial Holter Recordings	From Randomization through Month 24	Total cumulative duration (in minutes or hours) of atrial fibrillation or other atrial tachyarrhythmias recorded via serial Holter monitoring during the follow-up period.
Mean Total Number of Cardiovascular Health Care Utilization Events	From Randomization through Month 48	Total number of cardiovascular-related hospital admissions, emergency room visits, and unplanned clinic visits, as recorded in medical records.
Mean Total Number of Major Clinical Events	From Randomization through Month 48	The number of adjudicated major clinical events including decompensated heart failure requiring IV therapy, myocardial infarction, stroke/TIA, major bleeding, syncope, cardiac arrest, device implantation, repeat ablation, thromboembolic events, and serious procedural complications (e.g., atrio-esophageal fistula, tamponade).