CFAE/Spatiotemporal Dispersion Guided Ablation Versus PVI Guided Ablation in Persistent AF

Design: A prospective, multicenter, randomized unblinded clinical study.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of ablation of AF drivers marked by spatiotemporal dispersions and CFAEs guided ablation to PVI guided ablation in patients with persistent AF.

Hypothesis: CFAE/spatiotemporal dispersion guided ablation will increase AF free survival compared to a PVI guided ablation.

Enrollment: 180 patients will be enrolled in this study.

Clinical Sites: International (including non EU-countries), multicenter study.

Patient population: Patients with persistent AF (defined as atrial fibrillation which is sustained beyond 7 days but no more than one year, or lasting less than 7 days but necessitating pharmacologic or electrical cardioversion, but lasting longer than 48 hours) should be documented either on 12-lead ECG, transtelephonic monitoring (TTM), ambulatory holter monitoring (HM) or telemetry strip and a physician's note showing continuous AF. Furthermore patients who have failed at least one Anti Arrhythmic Drug (AAD) (Class I or III) as evidenced by recurrent symptomatic AF or intolerable side effects of the AAD. Eligible patients who sign the study informed consent form will be randomized based on a 2:1 ratio into one of two study arms:

• CFAE/spatiotemporal guided ablation: CFAE/spatiotemporal dispersion mapping and ablation during AF aimed at restoring sinus rhythm during ablation. Pulmonal vein isolation will be checked before and after ablation using a mapping catheter
• PVI guided ablation: wide antral pulmonary vein isolation during mapping catheter control of pulmonary vein signals

Primary Endpoint: Freedom from recorded AF or atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia recurrences (>30 seconds) without the use of AADs through 18 months follow-up, post-blanking, on either a 12 lead ECG on visits or on 24 hour holter monitoring or on symptom driven event monitoring.

CFAE/spatiotemporal dispersions procedural details: To increase the accuracy of CFAE mapping, the Pentaray mapping catheter will be used to define spatiotemporal dispersion areas of CFAEs as specific targets of ablation as described by Seitz (see also citation) as follows. Dispersion areas are defined as clusters of electrograms, either fractionated or non-fractionated, that display interelectrode time and space dispersion at a minimum of 3 adjacent bipoles such that activation spread over all the AFCL. At each bipole in a dispersion area, one or more of the following fractionated or nonfractionated electrogram morphologies can be found:

1. continuous, low-voltage fractionated electrograms ("continuously fractionated signal");
2. bursts of fractionated electrograms ("trains of fractionation");
3. fast nonfractionated electrograms (AFCL <120 ms; "rapid fires"); and
4. slow nonfractionated electrograms (AFCL >120 ms).

Multipolar electrogram dispersion and non-dispersion regions, illustrate that fractionated electrograms are found in both dispersion and non-dispersion regions.

CFAE software can be used, but CFAE ablation is not guided by the software, but based on visual judgement. Preferably a CFAE map will be made before ablation to judge the sites of most extensive CFAE sites. Baseline mapping in both atria will be performed during AF with the PentaRay multispline catheter sequentially positioned in various regions of the RA and LA. At each location, the catheter will be maintained in a stable position for a minimum of 2.5 s. The operator will look for dispersion areas (electrograms exhibiting both time and spatial dispersion). Where dispersion are found and/or the catheter is not stable for 2.5 s, acquisitions will be repeated.

Additional risks: No additional risks are anticipated for patients enrolled in this study compared to patients undergoing ablation of symptomatic AF outside of the study, because the same catheter is used as in patients outside the study, and both methods (PVI and CFAE) are part of daily practice. Although none reported in the literature so far, CFAE ablation may cause more extensive lesions than other ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation, especially in the posterior wall. This in turn may cause pericardial effusion, myocardial rupture and atrio-esophageal fistula. All of these are potentially life threatening. However, energy settings are changed according to myocardial wall size and pressure recordings, in order to prevent these complications. Furthermore, also in the group of wide antral ablation, the posterior wall is targeted, possibly resulting in the same events. For prevention of posterior wall injury, temperature monitoring in the oesofagus may be used.

Thrombus formation is a complication that can occur with any ablation technique. Thrombi may dislodge and embolize, causing a stroke, myocardial infarction or other ischemic event. Therefore, it is required that activated clotting time (ACT) is kept above 300 seconds. This should be monitored every 30 minutes, and heparin should be administered depending on the outcome. The operator is responsible for maintaining an adequate ACT.

Radiation exposure during the fluoroscopic imaging of the catheters may result in an increase in the lifetime risk of developing a fatal malignancy (0.1%) or a genetic defect in offspring (0.002%).

Potential Benefit: The direct benefit for patients undergoing ablation is the potential elimination of AF episodes. It is furthermore expected that quality of life will improve and less frequent hospitalization will be needed. Whether further morbidity as cerebral vascular events are prevented is subject to discussion. The information gained from the conduct of this study may benefit patients with AF by improving future treatment modalities.