Multi-catheter Cryoablation Program for Complex Arrhythmias
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Multi-Catheter Cryoablation Program versus Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation for the Treatment of Standard and Complex Arrhythmias
IRAS ID
236684
Contact name
MM Gallagher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's Univeristy of London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 9 months, 7 days
Research summary
Cardiac arrhythmias (including atrial fibrillation) are common conditions with potentially life changing impact, in terms of morbidity and mortality. The consequences of sub-optimal treatment include emergency admissions and/or heart failure. The way we manage arrhythmias have greatly advanced when catheter ablation became established as a treatment option. Catheter ablation offers patients a potentially curative treatment option.
Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that can be done under local or general anaesthetic. The catheters can abolish ‘abnormal electrics’ in small areas of the heart that is responsible for the arrhythmia in a safe and efficient manner. The energy applied to achieve this can be in the form of cryotherapy (‘freeze’) or radiofrequency (‘burn’).
Catheter ablation is offered for many different types of arrhythmias in the real world. Some arrhythmias can be more challenging to treat than others and some patients need to return for a second or third procedure due to failure of the previous catheter ablation. Improvement in ablation techniques are therefore needed.
The aim of this research study is to compare advanced ablation techniques, multi-catheter cryoablation versus radiofrequency, for common arrhythmias and its effect on patient outcomes.
NHS patients with cardiac arrhythmias and an indication for catheter ablation would potentially be eligible for this research study. (Most common arrhythmias would be studied.) This is a single centre prospective randomised study, to be held at St George’s Hospital.
Patients successfully recruited to this study will be randomised into the multi-catheter cryotherapy group or radiofrequency group. All patients will be followed up for 24 months after ablation therapy. They will have a 12 lead ECG and Holter (24 hour tape) during follow up.REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0593
Date of REC Opinion
22 May 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion