TARGET AF study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Study of Concomitant Epicardial Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Catheter Ablation in Treating Recurrent Persistent Atrial Fibrillation After Failed Previous Ablation
IRAS ID
229383
Contact name
Tom Wong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS \foundation trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm problem in the UK and worldwide. It reduces the quality of life of large numbers of people in the UK and around the world. Catheter ablation is a minimally invasive treatment that has been developed to help eliminate AF. However, the recurrence rate after a conventional catheter ablation to treat AF is high especially in people with long standing persistent AF (continuous AF for more than 1 year). Recent studies have identified that a certain area of the heart, namely the left atrial appendage (LAA), which is a pouch in the left atrium (small collecting chamber of the heart), may be the main source of AF in many cases.
In addition, it has been shown that AF significantly increases the risk of stroke. The majority of strokes occur due to blood clots forming in the LAA. Traditionally, the most effective treatment to minimise the risk of stroke has been to thin the blood with medicines such as warfarin and other new types of blood thinners. This therapy increases the risk of bleeding complications. Studies have demonstrated that closing the LAA is as effective as warfarin in stroke prevention.
In this study we aim to investigate whether ‘closing off’ the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) with a medical device called LARIAT which looks like a thin thread, is as safe and effective as other previous studies have shown. We hope to be able to show that AF can be more successfully eliminated than our current practice with this new combined procedure. In addition blood thinning medication may not be needed in some patients after the catheter ablation.REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/0143
Date of REC Opinion
27 Feb 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion