Atrial FibrillationFASTNCT00662701
Ablation or Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Treatment
A study testing Catheter Ablation and Surgical Ablation in people with Atrial Fibrillation, run by St. Antonius Hospital at 2 sites in 2 countries.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to compare 2 invasive strategies for Atrial Fibrillation treatment, Endocardial catheter ablation isolation of the Pulmonary veins versus minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgical epicardial isolation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 70 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Atrial Fibrillation
- What is being tested?
- Catheter Ablation and Surgical Ablation
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesin 2 countries
- Study dates
- May 2007to Jan 2013
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 30 to 70 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patient has a history of symptomatic paroxysmal and/or persistent atrial fibrillation for at least 12 months
- Patient is refractory to or intolerant of at least one antiarrhythmic drug
- Patient has an enlarged atrium >40 mm and/or Patient has a failed previous catheter ablation and/or Patient has additional risk factors such as hypertension, increasing age
- Patient is between 30 and 70 years of age
- Patient is mentally able and willing to give informed consent
Who cannot join
- Cardiac ablation or surgical cardiac procedure in the last 3 months
- Previous cardiac tamponade
- Previous stroke or TIA
- Left atrial thrombus
- Left atrial size >65 mm
- Left ventricular ejection fraction <45 %
Show all 19Show fewer
- Active infection or sepsis
- Pregnancy
- Unstable angina
- Myocardial infarction (MI) within previous 3 months
- Atrial fibrillation is secondary to electrolyte imbalance, thyroid disease, or other reversible or non-cardiovascular cause
- History of blood clotting abnormalities
- Known sensitivity to heparin or warfarin
- Life expectancy is less than 12 months
- Patient is involved in another clinical study involving an investigational drug or device
- Pleural adhesions
- Prior thoracotomy
- Prior cardiac surgery
- Elevated hemi diaphragm
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 2 countries.
2 sites in 2 countries
About this study
Official title: Atrial Fibrillation: Ablation or Surgical Treatment; A Randomized Study Comparing Non-pharmacologic Therapy in Patients With Drug-refractory Atrial Fibrillation
The purpose of this study is to compare 2 invasive strategies for Atrial Fibrillation treatment, Endocardial catheter ablation isolation of the Pulmonary veins versus minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgical epicardial isolation. Both strategies are in use for several years now, and have been reported as a successful strategy with success rates of 60-90%. However, it is not known which technique is preferable in a given patient population in terms of efficacy to cure AF, safety, or patient discomfort. Therefore, in the present trial a randomized study is proposed to provide more insight into the relative merits of both techniques
Read the detailed description
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting millions of people around the world. It is a large burden on health care resources and may even lead to a shorter life expectancy. Drug treatment has been found insufficient and sometimes even hazardous to the pt. Traditionally, there was only one invasive approach available, being MAZE 3 procedure by means of full open chest cardiac surgery. This was a very invasive approach, limited to only a few skilled surgeons, with insufficient options to treat large pt volume.
With the discovery that AF often is initiated and maintained by electrical instability inside and around the Pulmonary Veins, catheter ablation is now a widely accepted early invasive strategy to cure AF. Success rates of 60% to 90% have been reported, depending on technique employed and the type of AF (Resp, chronic versus paroxysmal)
- Conditions
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Being tested
- Catheter Ablation, Surgical Ablation
- Keywords
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Medical subject headings
- Atrial Fibrillation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Catheter AblationProcedure or surgery
RF ablation with complete circumferential ablation around the right and PVs, optional additional lines between the lower and upper PVs, and towards the mitral valve ring.
Surgical AblationProcedure or surgery
Minimal invasive thoracoscopic surgery including isolation of the PVs by AtriCure and removal of the LAA.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Active comparator | Catheter RF ablation with complete circumferential ablation around the right and PVs, and additional lines between the lower and upper PVs, and towards the mitral valve ring. Receives: Procedure: Catheter Ablation |
| 2 | Active comparator | Minimal invasive thoracoscopic surgery including isolation of the PVs by AtriCure and removal of the LAA. Receives: Procedure: Surgical Ablation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Freedom from AF and/or secondary left atrial arrhythmias, lasting >60 sec, as determined by 7 day continuous Holter monitoring.
Measured: 6 months
Safety and/or adverse events
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (2)
Freedom of AADs, Decrease in the frequency and duration of AF episodes, Decrease in the number of AF related hospital admissions, Improvement in quality of life internet Follow Up, Decrease in number of cardioversions, PM implant
Measured: 6 and 12 Months
Composite major complications, Serious Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Effects
Measured: 12 Months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Apr 2008 (estimated)
- Study startMay 2007
- Primary completionNov 2012
- Study completionJan 2013
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Atrial FibrillationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- St. Antonius Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, AtriCure, Inc.
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Lucas Boersma, St. Antonius Hospital
- Investigators
- Lucas Boersma, MD/PhD, Principal investigator, St. Antonius HospitalWimJan van Boven, MD, Principal investigator, St. Antonius HospitalLluis Mont, MD, Principal investigator, Hospital Clinic of BarcelonaCastella M, MD, Principal investigator, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00662701
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- R-06.30A/FAST
- Acronym
- FAST
- Status last verified
- Nov 2015
- First submitted
- 25 Mar 2008
- Last updated
- 20 Nov 2015
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
Publications
Boersma LV, Castella M, van Boven W, Berruezo A, Yilmaz A, Nadal M, Sandoval E, Calvo N, Brugada J, Kelder J, Wijffels M, Mont L. Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation versus surgical ablation treatment (FAST): a 2-center randomized clinical trial. Circulation. 2012 Jan 3;125(1):23-30. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.074047. Epub 2011 Nov 14.
PubMed 22082673
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Nov 2015. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Atrial Fibrillation: Ablation or Surgical Treatment; A Randomized Study Comparing Non-pharmacologic Therapy in Patients With Drug-refractory Atrial Fibrillation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00662701
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FAST / R-06.30A/FAST
- Conditions
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Keywords
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- St. Antonius HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, AtriCure, Inc.
- Study start
- May 2007
- Primary completion
- Nov 2012 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jan 2013 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Apr 2008 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to compare 2 invasive strategies for Atrial Fibrillation treatment, Endocardial catheter ablation isolation of the Pulmonary veins versus minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgical epicardial isolation. Both strategies are in use for several years now, and have been reported as a successful strategy with success rates of 60-90%. However, it is not known which technique is preferable in a given patient population in terms of efficacy to cure AF, safety, or patient discomfort. Therefore, in the present trial a randomized study is proposed to provide more insight into the relative merits of both techniques
Detailed description
Atrial Fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting millions of people around the world. It is a large burden on health care resources and may even lead to a shorter life expectancy. Drug treatment has been found insufficient and sometimes even hazardous to the pt. Traditionally, there was only one invasive approach available, being MAZE 3 procedure by means of full open chest cardiac surgery. This was a very invasive approach, limited to only a few skilled surgeons, with insufficient options to treat large pt volume.
With the discovery that AF often is initiated and maintained by electrical instability inside and around the Pulmonary Veins, catheter ablation is now a widely accepted early invasive strategy to cure AF. Success rates of 60% to 90% have been reported, depending on technique employed and the type of AF (Resp, chronic versus paroxysmal)
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Active comparator | Procedure: Catheter AblationCatheter RF ablation with complete circumferential ablation around the right and PVs, and additional lines between the lower and upper PVs, and towards the mitral valve ring. |
| 2 | Active comparator | Procedure: Surgical AblationMinimal invasive thoracoscopic surgery including isolation of the PVs by AtriCure and removal of the LAA. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 30 to 70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Patient has a history of symptomatic paroxysmal and/or persistent atrial fibrillation for at least 12 months
- Patient is refractory to or intolerant of at least one antiarrhythmic drug
- Patient has an enlarged atrium >40 mm and/or Patient has a failed previous catheter ablation and/or Patient has additional risk factors such as hypertension, increasing age
- Patient is between 30 and 70 years of age
- Patient is mentally able and willing to give informed consent
Key exclusion criteria (19 listed)
- Cardiac ablation or surgical cardiac procedure in the last 3 months
- Previous cardiac tamponade
- Previous stroke or TIA
- Left atrial thrombus
- Left atrial size >65 mm
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Catheter AblationRF ablation with complete circumferential ablation around the right and PVs, optional additional lines between the lower and upper PVs, and towards the mitral valve ring. | Procedure or surgery | 1 |
| Surgical AblationMinimal invasive thoracoscopic surgery including isolation of the PVs by AtriCure and removal of the LAA. | Procedure or surgery | 2 |
Primary outcome
Freedom from AF and/or secondary left atrial arrhythmias, lasting >60 sec, as determined by 7 day continuous Holter monitoring.
Time frame: 6 months
Safety and/or adverse events
Time frame: 6 months
2 secondary outcomes
Freedom of AADs, Decrease in the frequency and duration of AF episodes, Decrease in the number of AF related hospital admissions, Improvement in quality of life internet Follow Up, Decrease in number of cardioversions, PM implant
Time frame: 6 and 12 Months
Composite major complications, Serious Adverse Events, Serious Adverse Effects
Time frame: 12 Months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Nov 2015.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 22082673Boersma LV, Castella M, van Boven W, Berruezo A, Yilmaz A, Nadal M, Sandoval E, Calvo N, Brugada J, Kelder J, Wijffels M, Mont L. Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation versus surgical ablation treatment (FAST): a 2-center randomized clinical trial. Circulation. 2012 Jan 3;125(1):23-30. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.074047. Epub 2011 Nov 14.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Lucas Boersma, MD/PhD principal investigator
St. Antonius Hospital
WimJan van Boven, MD principal investigator
St. Antonius Hospital
Lluis Mont, MD principal investigator
Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
2 sites in 2 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Catheter Ablation and Surgical Ablation in people with Atrial Fibrillation, run by St. Antonius Hospital at 2 sites in 2 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 19 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Nov 2015. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in Netherlands, Spain. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Freedom from AF and/or secondary left atrial arrhythmias, lasting >60 sec, as determined by 7 day continuous Holter monitoring. (time frame: 6 months). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00662701, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Nov 2015; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.