Skip to content

Epicardial Mini-Maze Versus Catheter Ablation for the Management of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Epicardial Mini-Maze Versus Catheter Ablation for the Management of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Status
Withdrawn
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03446222
Acronym
EMMCAF
Enrollment
0
Registered
2018-02-26
Start date
2016-06-30
Completion date
2018-12-18
Last updated
2018-02-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Brief summary

This study will assess the efficacy of catheter ablation versus the Wolf Mini-Maze surgical ablation for rhythm control in patients with persistent afib.

Detailed description

Higher success rates have been achieved after a single surgical ablation when compared to catheter ablation, however contiguous and transmural lesions are not always guaranteed. Even though, catheter ablation is now being offered for symptomatic persistent AF, recurrence after the index procedure in such a persistent AF substrate is not unusual. Redo-catheter ablation is routinely offered for such patients; however long term success still remains low. Non-pulmonary vein triggers are often targeted in such redo-catheter ablation procedures; though this approach remains controversial. More recently, the Wolf Mini-Maze procedure has been utilized with promising results. This study proposes to randomize a group of persistent AF patients to undergo either catheter ablation or the surgical mini-maze procedure with left atrial appendage (LAA) ligation

Interventions

PROCEDURECatheter ablation

Catheter based radiofrequency ablation with wide antral circumferential PVI and isolation of posterior wall will be performed. Mitral and cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation will be done only if such isthumus dependent flutters are documented prior to / during the procedure.

PROCEDUREMini-maze surgical procedure

Wolf Mini-maze surgical ablation along with left atrial appendage ligation will be performed.

Sponsors

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Persistent symptomatic AF with failure of at least 1 anti-arrhythmic drug * Prior pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) * CHA2DS2VASC \> 0 * Able to tolerate and compliant with oral anticoagulation with either Warfarin, dabigatran, rivoraxaban or apixiban

Exclusion criteria

* Inability to follow-up as per protocol * Prior valvular surgery or valve replacement * Reversible cause for atrial fibrillation * Currently on dialysis or renal replacement therapy * Need for concomitant cardiac surgery * History of MI or stroke ≤2 months prior to ablation * Intolerance to oral anticoagulants * Thrombus in the Left atrial appendage

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frame
Number of participants who are free from atrial fibrillation (AF)12 months after the procedure

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of participants who experienced a procedural complication2 weeks after the procedure
Number of participants who are at risk of stroke12 months after the procedure
Number of participants who were hospitalized for cardiovascular events12 months after the procedure
AF burden as assessed by the CCA-SAF12 months after the procedureAF burden will be assessed using the Canadian Cardiovascular Society - Severity of Atrial Fibrillation Score (CCA-SAF), which provides objective symptoms severity scoring.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026