Esophageal Cooling in Radiofrequency Cardiac Ablation

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation

Interventions: Procedure: Conventional Care
Device: EnsoETM

Registration Number: NCT03481023

Lead Sponsor: Riverside Medical Center

Brief Summary: This pilot study evaluates the addition of the EnsoETM esophageal cooling device to the radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure in the treatment of atrial fibrillation in adults. Half of participants will receive the EnsoETM in addition to RF ablation, while the other half will receive luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring during RF ablation.

Detailed Description: Study Specific Procedures:

* Study specific imaging will include endoscopic evaluation of the esophagus one day before surgery at the time of the pre-op Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) and again 1-day post-op. This will include endoscopic esophageal intubation with visual assessment of the entire esophagus and grading of lesions. Coupled with this procedure will include endoscopic ultrasound assessment of the esophagus at the level of the left atrium with specific attention to the sub-mucosal layer that separates esophagus from the cardiac tissue. The patient will undergo moderate sedation during this procedure, which will accompany the TEE.

* The Esophageal Cooling Device (ECD) will be placed by trained study staff following endotracheal intubation. Proper positioning will be verified. A temperature probe will be placed to verify the patients core temperature. The target temperature will be set to the core temperature at the beginning of the procedure. Two minutes prior to ablation on the posterior wall the target temperature will be changed to the minimum temperature setting which will allow for maximal cooling. Cooling will take place throughout the duration of posterior wall ablation. After ablation in this territory is complete the target temperature will return to the patients core temperature. The device will be removed at the completion of the procedure by anesthesiology when there is no further need for an orogastric tube.

* LET monitoring will not be performed in the patients of the intervention group as the ECD is prohibitive. Therefore, ice lavage of the esophagus, as detailed below, will not be performed in this group.

Standard Care Procedures:

* Medical History will be obtained by interview and will involve identification of contraindications to the use of the ECD. This includes a history of esophageal perforation or varices. An allergy to silicone will be assessed.

* The patient's active medication list will be reviewed as is standard protocol for atrial fibrillation ablation, but this is not specific to the study as there are no medications that would impact the use of the ECD.

* All subjects will be on Protonix (40mg; twice daily) immediately following surgery for 30 days and anticoagulation for 3 months following surgery.

* The physical exam will be performed. Study specific exam is included as part of the airway assessment which is performed on a regular basis by anesthesiology. The oropharynx will be assessed prior to placement of the ECD.

* Radiofrequency ablation involving the posterior aspect of the left atrium will be performed with standard LET monitoring which may include intermittent boluses of iced lavaged saline through the nasogastric tube when the temperature rises above 1 degree centigrade. Termination of atrial fibrillation with provocation testing will be completed and further atrial tachyarrhythmia ablation will be carried out as indicated.

* The patient will follow-up in the office based on standard procedure with 10 day and 3 month follow-up to be scheduled.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 6

Inclusion Criteria

Subject has an atrial arrhythmia requiring radiofrequency ablation on the posterior aspect of the heart.
Subject is willing and able to provide informed consent.
Subject is capable of adhering to the expectations of the study protocol (e.g., attending follow-up visit).

Exclusion Criteria

Subject has known esophageal deformity, or evidence of esophageal trauma.
Subject has prior radiation therapy involving the esophagus.
Subject has a history of esophageal disease (e.g., esophageal varices, cirrhosis, history of esophagectomy, previous swallowing disorders, or achalasia).
Subject has ingested acidic or caustic poisons.
Subject is incarcerated.
Subject is pregnant or plans to become pregnant.
Subject has a silicone allergy.
Subject has esophageal bleeding prior to surgical procedure.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
LET monitoring	Conventional Care	-
Esophageal thermal regulation device	EnsoETM	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Esophageal Mucosal Damage	The post-intervention outcome measure was performed within 1 day after Pulmonary Vein Isolation.	Esophageal mucosal damage as assessed by endoscopic evaluation using Zagar's Modified Endoscopic Classification Scheme. Higher scores on this scale indicate a worse outcome. The grading system is as follows: Grade 0: Normal Examination; Grade 1: Edema and Hypermia of the Mucosa; Grade 2a: Superficial ulceration, erosions, friability, blisters, exudates, hemorrhages, whitish membranes; Grade 2b: Grade 2a pluse deep discrete or circumferential ulcerations; Grade 3a: Small scattered areas of multiple ulceration and areas of necrosis with brown-black or greyish discoloration; Grade 3b: Extensive necrosis. For this grading scale we used the following scoring: 0=0 1=1 2a=2 2b=3 3a=4 3b=5

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number and Percentage of Participants With Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events [Safety and Adverse Events]	3 months
Presence of Esophageal Submucosal Damage, Indicated by Number of Ulcers as Assessed by Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)	1 day	Altered submucosal tissue architecture as assessed by endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)