Persistent AF ablation - a single centre experience.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Persistent AF ablation using box set lesions and point-to-point technique, a comparison of procedure duration and long-term outcome.
IRAS ID
131862
Contact name
Edward Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation is a very common condition with associated morbidity and mortality. One of the ways in which symptomatic drug refractory AF can be treated is by a procedure called a catheter ablation. This is an invasive procedure performed percutaneously (via a tiny skin puncture). There are a variety of competing techniques for performing this procedure that vary in the pattern of scaring that is produced within the heart (intentional).
At Derriford hospital, Plymouth, we have performed around 65 ablations using a certain technique using a catheter called TVAC. To date, no-one has performed as many as we have, and no-one has reported the outcomes in the literature. The development of ablation techniques relies on the reporting of such outcomes. We have an additional 50 patients who have also undergone ablation for the same condition using the standard technique.
We would like to invite patients who have already undergone the procedure back to undergo a period of monitoring to accurately determine their outcome. This will be done using a 7-day non-invasive heart monitor (attached to the chest wall using 3 small replaceable stickers). We would also like to collect basic demographic data on the 2 groups, which can be performed, from the medical notes and to collect quality of life data by means of a disease specific QoL questionnaire.
We would plan to compare the primary outcome of procedure time as we believe the TVAC technique to be significantly quicker (an important consideration given both resource management and patient experience). Our secondary outcomes will include AF recurrence rates in the 2 groups.
Statistical analysis will be performed to compare the 2 techniques, using the point-to-point technique as control.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0896
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion