Atrial Fibrillation
Conditions
Keywords
Atrial Fibrillation, Thoracoscopy, Ganglia, autonomic, Ganglion Plexus, Ablation
Brief summary
This observational study investigates the long-term outcomes of patients ten years after their participation in a previous study on the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Participants were part of a the AFACT study a decade ago that explored whether damaging nerves around the heart could reduce AF. Participants were randomized to standard thoracoscopic AF ablation (MiniMaze) with or without Ganglion Plexus (GP) ablation. This new study aims to assess and compare the long-term effects of these treatments. We are specifically interested which treatment leads to more freedom from AF. Key questions include: How many patients are free from AF ten years after treatment without using antiarrhythmic drugs? What are the complications from both treatments? Participants will undergo the following assessments: * Clinical assessment at the outpatient clinic. * ECG and 24-hour Holter ECG * Echocarddiogram and laboratory assessment. * SF-36 Quality of life questionnaire.
Detailed description
Rationale: Invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has a limited efficacy. A substantial group of patients keep having symptoms of AF after ablation. Autonomic modulation of AF through ablation of the ganglion plexi (GP) has been suggested as an addition to surgical AF ablation. The AFACT trial demonstrated futility of GP ablation added to thoracoscopic ablation of AF at 1 and 2 years follow-up. Long term efficacy and safety of autonomic modulation of AF is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of GP ablation in addition to thoracoscopic PVI after 10 years of follow-up in patients with advanced AF. Study design: This single center cohort study will re-investigate participants in the AFACT trial. The study consists of three parts. First, a national mortality database examination will be conducted to identify the participants in AFACT who died in the last 10 years. Second, a prospective clinical assessment at the outpatient clinic and third a retrospective chart review. Patients will be invited to a single visit at the outpatient clinic to sign informed consent and a subsequent clinical assessment by an investigator. Additionally, patients will be examined through a 12-lead electrocardiogram(ECG), a 24-hour holter ECG, transthoracic echo (TTE), laboratory assessment and they will be asked to complete the SF-36 quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. Furthermore, a retrospective chart review will be performed integrating data from the AFACT trial with subsequent clinical information obtained through medical chart reviews were we will focus on finding the first recurrence of AF. Study population: The study population comprises participants from the AFACT trial, who were adults who underwent thoracoscopic ablation for advanced atrial fibrillation (AF). In the AFACT trial 240 patients were randomized to thoracoscopic ablation + GP ablation or thoracoscopic ablation. Intervention (if applicable): N.A. Main study parameters/endpoints: 1: Freedom of AF ten years after the procedure without the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. 2: Time to first AF recurrence. 3: Type of AF recurrence, i.e. paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF and atrial tachycardia (AT). 4: Left atrial (LA) volume and function. 5: QOL. 6: Pacemaker implants. 7: Additional ablation procedures. 8: Major adverse events. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: The benefit of this study is that patients have an extra control visit to investigate the heart rhythm and that physical examination is performed, if necessary. This study carries no risks for the patients.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Amsterdam UMC
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* AFACT Trial participant
Exclusion criteria
* Refusal to be contacted for future studies during or since the AFACT trial.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom of AF | 10 years | Number of participants with freedom of AF after ten years after the procedure without the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. Freedom of AF is defined as the absence of documentation of episodes of AF, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia \>30 seconds on all holters and ECG recordings during follow up. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Classification of AF recurrence | 10 years | Classifications of AF recurrence and change from baseline of AF recurrence classification (paroxysmal, persistent, permanent AF, and atrial tachycardia). |
| Left Atrial Volume and Function | Between 8 and 10 years follow up | left Atrial (LA) Volume and Function 8 to 10 years post procedure compared between the two arms. And the change in Left Atrial (LA) Volume and Function from baseline to 8 to 10 years post procedure compared. |
| Quality of Life improvement | 10 years | Improvement from baseline of functional status as measured by the RAND 36 quality of life questionnaires at 10 years |
| Time to first AF recurrence. | Within 10 year follow up. | Time to first AF recurrence defined as the first documentation of documentation of AF \>30 seconds during follow up. |
| Additional ablation | 10 years | Number and reasons for additional ablation procedures during the ten-year follow-up period. |
| Cardioversions | 10 years | Number and reasons for cardioversions during the ten-year follow up. |
| Major cardiovascular adverse events | 10 years | Occurrence of major adverse events (heart failure, stroke, major bleeding, mortality) during the follow-up period. |
| Pacemaker implants | 10 years | Number and reasons for pacemaker implants during the ten-year follow-up period. |
Contacts
Primary ContactProf. Dr. J.R. de Groot
Backup ContactMarc Terpstra, MD
Outcome results
None listed