PVI Alone vs PVI With Posterior Wall Isolation for Pulse-Field Ablation in Persistent AF

NCT ID: NCT06929897

Last Updated: 2025-04-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

214 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-05-01

Study Completion Date

2027-10-01

Brief Summary

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To date, no optimal treatment has been established to improve outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation. The safety and efficacy of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) have been demonstrated in several studies, and its clinical application is expanding.

\- In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, can the addition of posterior wall isolation (PWI) following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using PFA reduce recurrence?

Participants will:

* Undergo either PVI alone or PVI with additional left atrial posterior wall isolation (PWI)
* Visit the clinic to assess for recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias

Detailed Description

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cardiovascular disease with a prevalence of approximately 1.2% in the general population. It accounts for 20-25% of ischemic strokes and is associated with about 30% of heart failure cases. Catheter ablation is an interventional rhythm control strategy that has demonstrated superior outcomes compared to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in patients with drug-refractory AF. For paroxysmal AF, pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency catheter ablation or cryoballoon ablation has been shown to yield better clinical outcomes than medication alone.

However, in persistent AF, additional ablation strategies beyond PVI have been investigated to improve procedural success rates. While previous studies explored the efficacy of linear ablation and complex fractionated electrogram (CFAE) ablation, recent research suggests that these additional ablation strategies do not significantly improve outcomes in persistent AF. As a result, the optimal catheter ablation strategy for persistent AF remains uncertain.

Nonetheless, some studies have proposed left atrial posterior wall isolation (PWI) as a potential adjunct to reduce AF recurrence in patients with persistent AF. Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) has been recognized in both Europe and the United States for its safety and efficacy, offering a catheter ablation technique that enables a more effective and safer PVI. Additionally, PFA-based posterior wall isolation has been reported to facilitate rapid and safe lesion formation.

Thus, this study aims to prospectively and randomly assign patients undergoing PFA for persistent AF to either:

1. PVI alone or
2. PVI with additional left atrial posterior wall isolation (PWI) By comparing outcomes between these two groups, this study seeks to determine the optimal ablation strategy for patients with persistent AF.

Conditions

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Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is performed using pulsed-field ablation. Afterward, electrical cardioversion is performed to restore normal sinus rhythm. Patients who successfully convert to sinus rhythm are then randomly assigned to either the PVI-only group or the PVI with additional left atrial posterior wall isolation group.

1. Patients requiring catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).
2. AF ablation is performed while maintaining anticoagulation therapy.
3. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is performed as the primary procedure.
4. After PVI, direct current (DC) cardioversion is performed to restore normal sinus rhythm. If the patient converts to sinus rhythm, they are randomly assigned to either the PVI-only group or the additional left atrial posterior wall ablation group.
5. Patients who fail to convert to sinus rhythm after DC cardioversion are excluded from randomization.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Additional Left Atrial Posterior Wall Ablation Group

After pulmonary vein isolation, electrical isolation of the left atrial posterior wall is performed using a pulsed-field ablation catheter with EGM-guided ablation.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

1. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is performed as the primary procedure.
2. After PVI, direct current (DC) cardioversion is performed to restore normal sinus rhythm. If the patient converts to sinus rhythm, they are randomly assigned to either the PVI-only group or the additional left atrial posterior wall ablation group.
3. Patients who fail to convert to sinus rhythm after DC cardioversion are excluded from randomization.

Additional Left Atrial Posterior Wall Ablation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

1. Additional left atrial posterior wall ablation is performed.
2. Complete electrical isolation of the entire left atrial posterior wall is confirmed (posterior box lesion isolation must be achieved).
3. Post-procedural rhythm monitoring follows the study protocol.

Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) only Group

Electrical isolation of all four pulmonary veins is performed using a pulsed-field ablation catheter.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

1. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is performed as the primary procedure.
2. After PVI, direct current (DC) cardioversion is performed to restore normal sinus rhythm. If the patient converts to sinus rhythm, they are randomly assigned to either the PVI-only group or the additional left atrial posterior wall ablation group.
3. Patients who fail to convert to sinus rhythm after DC cardioversion are excluded from randomization.

Non-PV trigger test

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

1. If atrial fibrillation triggers are identified with isoproterenol infusion, additional focal ablation is performed.
2. Post-procedural rhythm monitoring follows the study protocol.

Interventions

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Pulmonary Vein Isolation

1. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is performed as the primary procedure.
2. After PVI, direct current (DC) cardioversion is performed to restore normal sinus rhythm. If the patient converts to sinus rhythm, they are randomly assigned to either the PVI-only group or the additional left atrial posterior wall ablation group.
3. Patients who fail to convert to sinus rhythm after DC cardioversion are excluded from randomization.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Additional Left Atrial Posterior Wall Ablation

1. Additional left atrial posterior wall ablation is performed.
2. Complete electrical isolation of the entire left atrial posterior wall is confirmed (posterior box lesion isolation must be achieved).
3. Post-procedural rhythm monitoring follows the study protocol.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Non-PV trigger test

1. If atrial fibrillation triggers are identified with isoproterenol infusion, additional focal ablation is performed.
2. Post-procedural rhythm monitoring follows the study protocol.

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

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PVI Posterior box isolation

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients eligible for catheter ablation according to existing clinical guidelines
* Those without clinically significant structural heart disease (e.g., severe mitral regurgitation)
* Those without contraindications to anticoagulation therapy

Exclusion Criteria

* Atrial fibrillation associated with severe congenital heart disease or structural heart disease
* Patients with contraindications to general anesthesia or sedation for the procedure
* History of prior cardiac surgery (e.g., Maze procedure, coronary artery bypass grafting)
* History of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation within the past 12 months
* Patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction \<30%)
* Patients with active internal bleeding
* Patients with contraindications to anticoagulation therapy and antiarrhythmic drugs
* Valvular atrial fibrillation (e.g., mitral stenosis \> grade 2, mechanical valve, prior mitral valve repair)
* Patients with severe comorbid conditions
* Patients with an expected survival of less than one year
* Patients with drug or alcohol addiction
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women
* Any other conditions deemed by the investigator to make the patient unsuitable for study participation
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Korea University Anam Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ajou University School of Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Seoul National University Bundang Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Kangbuk Samsung Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hanyang University Seoul Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Asan Medical Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Wonkwang University Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Korea University Guro Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Severance Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospitoal

Seoul, , South Korea

Site Status

Countries

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South Korea

Central Contacts

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Junbeom Park, M.D., Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

+82-02-2650-5826

Other Identifiers

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POBI-PFA

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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