OMNIVOLT-AF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Omnipolar Voltage-Based Substrate Characterisation of the Left Atrium in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.
IRAS ID
280580
Contact name
Phang Boon Lim
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that causes irregular heartbeat and affects a significant portion of the population. This rhythm can cause debilitating symptoms including palpitations, fatigue and breathlessness, can cause strokes, and is a significant cause of morbidity.
We know that the majority of triggers for Atrial Fibrillation come from the veins that drain blood from the lungs and into the heart (the pulmonary veins - PV). A lot of our current strategy for treatment of AF is directed at delivering radio frequency ablation around the pulmonary veins to isolate them (PVI) from the rest of the heart and thus contain most of the triggers for AF. However, in the Persistent AF patient population group, PVI results are poor - 70% success rate at one year with 2 procedures.
There is emerging evidence to suggest that areas of scar within the rest of the atrium act as initiators or drivers of AF outside of the PVs. Our current tools for detecting scar tissue are not very accurate. We have used surrogates of low tissue voltage int he heart as identifying scar, but literature is divided. In order to be able to accurately target the scar areas, we need to be able to accurately identify them within the procedure.
In this study we will be looking to use a new way of analysing voltage data (omnipolar voltage) within the heart and comparing it retrospectively with MRI data. It will be an observational diagnostic accuracy study comparing voltage data in normal sinus rhythm, in AF and in different heart rates - facilitated by pacing manoeuvres between two different intracardiac catheters (plastic tubes with electrodes at the end). All voltage maps will be compared retrospectively to the gold standard of Cardiac MRI for scar assessment.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0175
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion