Combined Endoscopic Epicardial and Percutaneous Endocardial Ablation Versus Repeated Catheter Ablation in Persistent and Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (CEASE-AF)
Atrial Fibrillation, Persistent and Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Atrial Fibrillation focused on measuring Atrial Fibrillation, Persistent and Longstanding Persistent AF, Hybrid Procedure, Catheter Ablation
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patient has a history of symptomatic Persistent AF and a left atrium (LA) > 4cm or Long Standing Persistent AF as defined by the HRS/EHRA/ECAS expert consensus statement
- Patient is refractory to or intolerant of at least one antiarrhythmic drug (class I or III)
- Patient is mentally able and willing to give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient has longstanding persistent AF > 10 years
- Patient presenting with paroxysmal AF
- Patient with persistent AF and a LA-diameter ≤ 4cm
- AF is secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, or other reversible or non-cardiovascular cause
- Patient underwent previous ablation procedure or heart surgery
- Patient needs other cardiac surgery procedures besides AF treatment (valve, coronary, others)
- Contraindication for either catheter ablation or epicardial surgery (including, but not limited to: previous thoracic radiation, previous perimyocarditis, Previous cardiac tamponade, Pleural adhesions, Prior thoracotomy)
- Body mass index > 35
- LA Diameter > 6 cm
- Left ventricular ejection fraction < 30 %
- Severe mitral regurgitation (>II)
- Patient unable to undergo TransEsophageal Echocardiogram (TEE)
- Presence of LA thrombus by TEE, CT scan, MRI or angiography
- History of cerebrovascular disease, including stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 6 months prior to enrollment
- Active infection or sepsis
- Other clinical conditions precluding inclusion (e.g., organ disease, disturbances of hemostasis)
- Contraindication to anticoagulant therapy, or inability to comply with anticoagulant therapy
- Pregnancy, planned pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Life expectancy is less than 12 months
- Patient is involved in another study involving an investigational drug or device
Sites / Locations
- Dr Tomáš Ostřížek
- Czech Budejovice Hospital, Inc.
- Cardiovascular Center Bad Neustadt
- Schüchtermann-Schiller'sche Kliniken Herzzentrum Osnabrück
- Heart Center Leipzig
- Klinikum Ludwigsburg
- Peter Osypka Heart Center Munich
- Kliniken Sindelfingen
- Sana Heart Center Stuttgart
- St. Antonius Hospital
- Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of Interior
- Northern General Hospital
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Hybrid Procedure
Catheter Procedure
Endoscopic epicardial surgical ablation (first stage) combined with endocardial catheter ablation (second stage) performed between 91 and 180 days post index procedure.
Standard catheter ablation with pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (minimum lesion set) and optional additional lesions (index procedure). When required due to AF recurrence, ablation may be repeated within 6 months after the index-procedure according to clinical indications and consistent with the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS)/European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)/European Cardiac Arrhythmia Society (ECAS) Consensus Statement