RF Power, LSI and Oesophageal Temperature Alerts During AF Ablation (PiLOT-AF Study)

NCT ID: NCT02619396

Last Updated: 2020-07-08

Study Results

Results available

Outcome measurements, participant flow, baseline characteristics, and adverse events have been published for this study.

View full results

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-01-31

Study Completion Date

2017-03-11

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common abnormal heart rhythm, triggered by rapid electrical activity originating from the pulmonary veins (PVs) that drain blood from the lungs back to the left atrium (LA). Ablation of the junction between the PVs and the LA, electrically isolating the veins from the heart, is the key to prevent AF.

When using radiofrequency energy (RF), transmural lesions are required to achieve permanent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). New technologies are currently available to predict the ablation lesion depth and to guide the duration of each application. However, deeper lesions mean a higher risk of overheating and damage of adjacent structures such as the esophagus that lies against the back wall of the LA. In order to minimize this risk, the investigators continuously monitor the temperature inside the esophagus during the procedure through a probe placed in the esophagus and they promptly terminate energy delivery in case of any esophageal temperature rises more than 39°C.

To date, it is not known if a low power for a longer time is better than a high power for a shorter time when ablating on the LA posterior wall in order to create permanent scars without heating the esophagus.

Therefore, the investigators plan to compare the incidence of esophageal temperature alerts and the success of the procedure with four different energy settings during ablation on the LA posterior wall.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

The PiLOT-AF study is a prospective single-centre randomized observational study aiming at comparing different radiofrequency energy (RF) settings during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation on the left atrial (LA) posterior wall, in terms of esophageal heating, acute and long-term procedure success and procedural complications.

Patients scheduled for their first RF ablation, because of a history of symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal or persistent AF, will be considered for inclusion in the study.

Potential subjects will initially be approached 4-6 weeks before their ablation procedure, in order to give them enough time to consider the information, to ask questions to the investigators, their family doctor or other independent parties to decide whether they wish to participate in the study or not.

For those interested in participation, a baseline assessment will be arranged to coincide with their standard pre-admission visit, for informed consent, screening and eligibility assessment and randomization.

All AF ablation procedures will be performed in a standard fashion, under general anaesthesia and with continuous esophageal temperature monitoring using a sinusoidal multi-sensor esophageal temperature probe (CIRCAtemp). After LA geometry reconstruction using 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping EnSite Velocity and a multipolar circular mapping catheter St Jude Medical Optima, the ablation catheter Endosense Tacticath through a deflectable sheath St Medical Agilis will be used for Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI). Standardized RF settings will be used during ablation on the LA anterior wall as current practice in our centre. Different RF settings will be used on the LA posterior wall, according to randomization group. Moreover target values will be chosen for Lesion Size Index (LSI), a parameter useful to predict the lesion depth, during ablation on LA posterior wall. The duration of RF delivery on the LA posterior wall will be dictated by achievement of the target LSI or esophageal temperature rise \> 39◦C during ablation. PVI will be achieved and confirmed after 30 minutes waiting time. In case of acute PV reconnection, ablation at sites of breakthrough signals will be performed in order to achieve durable PVI. The occurrence of acute PV reconnection (PVR) with sites of breakthrough signals on the LA posterior wall will be recorded for each procedure. The total procedure and RF ablation times will be also collected.

After the ablation, before discharge the symptoms status and heart rhythm will be assessed and the patient will be instructed to commence a symptoms diary. Telephone follow-ups will be then performed at 3 and 6 months to assess current symptom status. Standard care follow-up Arrhythmia Clinic visits will be also performed 3-4 months after the ablation procedure. Ad hoc visits and/or additional investigations as prolonged electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring will also take place, dictated by arrhythmia symptoms and assessment for potential adverse events related to the procedure, in accordance with standard practice.

The end of the study for each patient will be the date of the 6 months telephone follow-up.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Atrial Fibrillation

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Group "20 W / LSI 4"

Patients elected to atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and randomized to Combination 1 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Combination 1 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

20 W RF power and target LSI = 4 on LA posterior wall

Group "40 W / LSI 4"

Patients elected to atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and randomized to Combination 2 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Combination 2 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

40 W RF power and target LSI = 4 on LA posterior wall

Group "20 W / LSI 5"

Patients elected to atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and randomized to Combination 3 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Combination 3 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

20 W RF power and target LSI = 5 on LA posterior wall

Group "40 W / LSI 5"

Patients elected to atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and randomized to Combination 4 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Combination 4 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

40 W RF power and target LSI = 5 on LA posterior wall

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Combination 1 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

20 W RF power and target LSI = 4 on LA posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Combination 2 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

40 W RF power and target LSI = 4 on LA posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Combination 3 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

20 W RF power and target LSI = 5 on LA posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Combination 4 of radiofrequency (RF) power and Lesion Size Index (LSI) on left atrial (LA) posterior wall

40 W RF power and target LSI = 5 on LA posterior wall

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* male or female, aged 18 to 80 years;
* willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study;
* history of symptomatic and drug-refractory atrial fibrillation;
* planned atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation on a clinical basis.

Exclusion Criteria

* previous AF ablation;
* pregnancy, trying for a baby or breast feeding;
* oesophageal obstruction (mass, stricture), diverticulum or varices, tracheo-oesophageal fistula or any other oesophageal conditions prohibiting the use of oesophageal temperature probe for continuous luminal temperature monitoring;
* any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the study, or may influence the result of the study, or the participant's ability to participate in the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Dr Tim Betts MD MBChB FRCP

Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Tim R Betts, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

John Radcliffe Hospital

Oxford, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United Kingdom

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Petersen HH, Chen X, Pietersen A, Svendsen JH, Haunso S. Tissue temperatures and lesion size during irrigated tip catheter radiofrequency ablation: an in vitro comparison of temperature-controlled irrigated tip ablation, power-controlled irrigated tip ablation, and standard temperature-controlled ablation. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2000 Jan;23(1):8-17. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2000.tb00644.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10666748 (View on PubMed)

Haines DE. Determinants of lesion size during radiofrequency catheter ablation: the role of electrode-tissue contact pressure and duration of energy delivery. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 2008;2(6):509-15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Kautzner J, Neuzil P, Peickl P. Contact force, FTI and Lesion continuity are critical to improve durable PV isolation: EFFICAS 2 results. Heart Rhythm. 2012;9(5S):1-564

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Cummings JE, Schweikert RA, Saliba WI, Burkhardt JD, Brachmann J, Gunther J, Schibgilla V, Verma A, Dery M, Drago JL, Kilicaslan F, Natale A. Assessment of temperature, proximity, and course of the esophagus during radiofrequency ablation within the left atrium. Circulation. 2005 Jul 26;112(4):459-64. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.509612. Epub 2005 Jul 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16027254 (View on PubMed)

Singh SM, d'Avila A, Doshi SK, Brugge WR, Bedford RA, Mela T, Ruskin JN, Reddy VY. Esophageal injury and temperature monitoring during atrial fibrillation ablation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2008 Aug;1(3):162-8. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.107.789552.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19808410 (View on PubMed)

Kowalski M, Grimes MM, Perez FJ, Kenigsberg DN, Koneru J, Kasirajan V, Wood MA, Ellenbogen KA. Histopathologic characterization of chronic radiofrequency ablation lesions for pulmonary vein isolation. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 Mar 6;59(10):930-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2011.09.076.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22381429 (View on PubMed)

Leo M, Pedersen M, Rajappan K, Ginks MR, Hunter RJ, Bowers R, Kalla M, Bashir Y, Betts TR. Power, Lesion Size Index and Oesophageal Temperature Alerts During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: A Randomized Study. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2020 Oct;13(10):e008316. doi: 10.1161/CIRCEP.120.008316. Epub 2020 Sep 8.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 32898435 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

11536-SPON

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.