Epicardial And Endocardial RF Ablation For The Treatment Of Symptomatic Long-standing Persistent AF
Epicardial And Endocardial RF Ablation For The Treatment Of Symptomatic Long-standing Persistent AF: Epicardial linear lesions will be created endoscopically using the EPi-Sense®-Guided Coagulation System or EPi-Sense ST™ Coagulation System throughout the posterior left atrium and along the pericardial reflections from a trans-diaphragmatic or sub-xyphoid access without any chest incisions. Posterior and other linear lesions such as a roof lesion and mitral valve isthmus lesion will not be created during the endocardial component of the convergent procedure. This will be done endocardially using an irrigated endocardial ablation catheter.
Once the study lesion pattern has been created by coagulating cardiac tissue using the EPi-Sense®-Guided Coagulation System or EPi-Sense ST™ Coagulation System and the endocardial ablation catheter, the pulmonary veins must be evaluated for entrance and/or exit block to confirm isolation. .
Study summary
The primary objective of CONVERGE PAS is to evaluate clinical outcomes (peri-procedural and long-term) in a cohort of patients treated during commercial use of the EPi-Sense® Guided Coagulation System or EPi-Sense ST™ Coagulation System to treat symptomatic long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who are refractory or intolerant to at least one Class I and/or III AAD.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age ≥ 18 years and \< 80 years at time of enrollment consent;
2. Left atrium ≤ 6.0 cm assessed with Transthoracic Echocardiography \[TTE\] with parasternal 4 chamber view or equivalent imaging modality;
3. Refractory or intolerant to at least one AAD (class I and/or III);
4. Subject has symptomatic (e.g. palpitations, shortness of breath, fatigue) longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation as defined by the 2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS Guidelines (\> 12 months of continuous AF);
5. Life expectancy \> 12 months; and
6. Provides written informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Patients requiring concomitant surgery such as valvular repair or replacement, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and atrial septal defect closure;
2. Left ventricular ejection fraction \< 35%;
3. Pregnant or planning to become pregnant during study;
4. Co-morbid medical conditions that limit one-year life expectancy;
5. Previous cardiac surgery;
6. History of pericarditis;
7. Previous cerebrovascular accident (CVA), excluding fully resolved TIA;
8. Patients who have active infection or sepsis
9. Patients with esophageal ulcers strictures and varices;
10. Patients with renal dysfunction who are not on dialysis (defined as GFR ≤ 40);
11. Patients who are contraindicated for anticoagulants such as heparin and coumadin;
12. Patients who are being treated for ventricular arrhythmias;
13. Patients who have had more than 2 prior left atrial catheter ablations for AF. NOTE: Note: Prior ablations should be limited to failed Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) and no other left atrial lesions;
14. Current participation in another clinical investigation of a medical device or a drug, or recent participation in such a study within 30 days prior to study enrollment;
15. Not competent to legally represent him or herself (e.g., requires a guardian or caretaker as a legal representative);
16. Patient has presence of thrombus in the left atrium determined by intraoperative TEE;
17. Patient exhibits pulmonary vein stenosis in one or more of the pulmonary veins \>50 % stenosis;
18. Planned Left Atrial Appendage Management (LAAM) with an endocardial implantable device during the course of the study;
19. Presence of other anatomic or comorbid conditions, or other medical, social, or psychological conditions that, in the investigator's opinion, could limit the subject's ability to participate in the clinical investigation or to comply with follow-up requirements, or impact the scientific soundness of the clinical investigation results
20. Presence of Barretts esophagitis
Primary outcome measure(s)
Freedom from AF/AFL/AT >30 seconds through 12 months absent new or increased dose of class I/III AAD. — 1 year Primary Effectiveness Endpoint:
The primary effectiveness endpoint is defined as the number of participants that exhibit freedom from AF/AT/AFL absent class I and III AADs except for a previously failed or intolerant class I or III AAD with no increase in dosage following the 90-day blanking period through the 12-months post procedure follow-up visit.
The primary effectiveness endpoint will be evaluated based on the first 24 hours of the 7-days Holter monitoring.
Participants will be considered failures if any of the following conditions are observed: AF/AFL/AT greater than 30 seconds, new or increased dose of previously failed AAD through 12 month post procedure visit, Cardioversion through 12 months post procedure, left sided catheter ablation through 12 months post procedure and catheter ablation for right sided typical atrial flutter. Failures will be compared to total cohort to establish a success rate.
Primary Safety Endpoint, Incidence of defined Major Adverse Events — 30-days post procedure The primary safety endpoint for the study is defined as the number of participants that exhibit device or procedure-related major adverse events (MAEs) for subjects undergoing the Hybrid Convergent procedure from the index procedure through 30-days post procedure. Participants will be considered failures if the following is exhibted:
* Pericardial effusions with cardiac tamponade defined as effusions resulting in hemodynamic compromise.
* Severe pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis
* Excessive bleeding requiring reoperation
* Myocardial infarction (MI);
* Stroke, transient ischemic attacks (TIA);
* Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) through 3-months post-procedure;
* Phrenic nerve injury
* Death Failures will be compared to total cohort of participants to establish success rate.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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