A Prospective Multi Centre Trial on Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00184249 |
Recruitment Status :
Withdrawn
(Collaborators did not enter patients into the study)
First Posted : September 16, 2005
Last Update Posted : March 20, 2015
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Atrial Fibrillation | Procedure: Bipolar radiofrequency ablation | Not Applicable |
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common persistent arrhythmia, prevalent in about 6% of the population over 65 years of age. AF reduces the quality of life and increases mortality. AF is particularly common in combination with mitral valve disease, but is also detected in about 5% of patients with aortic valve and coronary artery disease. Surgical treatment of AF with the Cox-maze III operation was developed by J. Cox during the 80ies. The aim of the operation is to block spread of irregular electrical activity by creating lines of isolation in the atrial musculature. The operation achieves sinus rhythm in over 90% in selected patients. Nevertheless the method was only used in few heart surgical centres, because it is complex and time consuming.In recent years alternative energy sources have been developed to create isolating lines without cutting the tissue and thus making ablation treatment easier. Bipolar radiofrequency ablation is special because the energy is delivered feedback controlled until transmurality is achieved. This is a prerequisite for a good result and makes using the equipment safer.
Since the development of the Cox-maze procedure, our knowledge of atrial fibrillation and its treatment has increased considerably. There is a consensus that the posterior part of the left atrium and in particular the pulmonary veins are an important target for treatment. Surgical ablation with alternative energy sources is a new method under continued development and evaluation.
The optimal ablation treatment is unknown. A balance between invasiveness and achieving sinus rhythm in as many as possible has to be found. Creating numerous ablation lines in both atria is time consuming and leads probably to an increased need for permanent pacemaker implantation and reduced contractility of the atrial tissue. On the other hand can a simple bipolar ablation of pulmonary veins performed easily, but this is probably an insufficient treatment for most patients. In the protocol a new method using solely bipolar ablation for creation of several ablation lines in the left atrium is described.
The study is a prospective multi-centre study to investigate the effect of a new bipolar ablation strategy of the left atrium in patients with paroxysmal or permanent AF over time.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 0 participants |
Allocation: | Non-Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Prospective Multi Centre Trial on Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation |
Study Start Date : | June 2005 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | June 2010 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | June 2012 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Bipolar radiofrequency ablation |
Procedure: Bipolar radiofrequency ablation
Ablation using CE marked bipolar ablation devices
Other Names:
|
- Number of patients in sinus rhythm after 3, 6, and 12 months [ Time Frame: 3, 6, ]
- Number of patients with atrial function at echo-doppler after 6 and 12 months [ Time Frame: 3,6, 12 months ]
- Number of patients on anticoagulants after 6 and 12 months [ Time Frame: 6 and 12 months ]

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- referred for elective heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation
- suffers from AF for more than 6 months but less than 7 years
- aged between 18 and 80 years
- ejection fraction above 30 %
Exclusion Criteria:
- Reoperations
- NYHA class IV
- Ischemic mitral incompetence
- Creatinine > 140
- Transmural myocardial infarction < 4 weeks
- Endocarditis
- Serious peripheral vascular disease
- Pregnancy or breast-feeding
- Drug addiction
- Size of left atrium > 60 mm in preoperative echo-doppler investigation.
- Disease or other condition when the patient is unable to understand the objectives and the scope of the study.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00184249
Study Director: | Alexander Wahba, Prof | Norwegian University of Science and Technology |
Responsible Party: | Norwegian University of Science and Technology |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00184249 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
120905 |
First Posted: | September 16, 2005 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 20, 2015 |
Last Verified: | March 2015 |
Catheter ablation Heart/surgery Cardial surgical procedures |
Atrial Fibrillation Arrhythmias, Cardiac Heart Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Pathologic Processes |