CatHeter Ablation of perSistEnd Atrial Fibrillation: Pulmonary Vein Isolation Versus Defragmentation. The CHASE-AF Study.

Study protocol:

In patients randomized to PVI alone, the index procedure consists of wide circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (1 cm distal of the PV ostium) including optional right atrial isthmus ablation. Endpoint for PVI is entrance block as evaluated by a circumferential mapping catheter during sinus rhythm at the end of the procedure. In all patients the NavX® three-dimensional mapping system should be used. The St. Jude Medical Coolflex® or Coolpath® catheters may be used at the operator's discretion.

In patients randomized to the strategy aiming for atrial fibrillation termination PVI is also the initial step of the procedure followed by atrial defragmentation and eventual linear ablation in case of atrial tachycardia aiming for acute restoration of sinus rhythm. The procedural steps with regard to mapping and ablation of atrial fibrillation and consecutive atrial tachycardia follow the previously described methods (8,9). After initial ablation the previous antiarrhythmic drug treatment can be continued but no de novo antiarrhythmic drug regiment should be applied. The primary endpoint of this study is recurrence of atrial arrhythmias between 6 and 12 months after the initial ablation procedure.

In both study arms, the same CE certified catheters will be used. Usually, the setting consists of on decapolar catheter positioned in the coronary sinus, one circumferential mapping catheters for mapping of the pulmonary veins, one quadripolar catheter for mapping the right atrium. In both study groups a externally irrigated catheter for mapping and ablation will be used (CoolFlex/ Coolpath as mentioned above).

Sample size calculation: