Clinical Research Directory

A Study to Select the Dose and Evaluate the Effectiveness and Safety of the Drug Refralon®, Tablets, 1 mg for Long-term Use to Prevent Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter After Terminating Its Persistent Form

Refralon® tablets in two different doses (1 or 2 tablets per day) will be evaluated vs. placebo in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation/flutter after synus rhythm restoration in order to prevent recurrence of arrhythmia. Efficacy and safety of Refralon® tablets will be studied, its optimal dose will be selected and its pharmacokinetics will be evaluated in 14 days, 1, 3 and 6 months.

HeartBeam ECG Registry

The HeartBeam ECG Registry will collect ECG recordings acquired with the HeartBeam System with relevant clinical information in clinical settings.

Anatomical Navigation for Guided Electrophysiology in AFL and AFib

The objective of the study is to collect data on the use of the VERAFEYE Anatomical Guidance System in adult patients indicated to undergo a catheter ablation procedure for the treatment of Atrial Flutter (AFL), paroxysmal AF (PAF) or persistent AF (perAF). The study will collect specific information on management of AFL/AF ablation procedures with the commercial VERAFEYE Anatomical Guidance System including but not limited to acute procedural success , and how the VERAFEYE Anatomical Guidance System is used overall. Results from this study may be used to guide development and refinement the VERAFEYE Anatomical Guidance System.

Feasibility Study on the VERAFEYE Imaging and Navigation System for Guided Catheter Ablation Procedures

The objective of the study is to collect data on the usability and integration of the VERAFEYE Imaging and Guidance System in adult patients indicated to undergo a standard of care catheter-based ablation procedure for the treatment of Atrial Flutter (AFL), paroxysmal AF (PAF) or persistent AF (perAF). Results from this study may be used to guide development and refinement the VERAFEYE Imaging and Guidance System capabilities.

Baseline Atrial Fibrosis Predicts Risk for Post-operative Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

The study aims to evaluate and compare the incidence of atrial arrhythmias (including Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation (POAF), atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia) stratified by baseline Utah fibrosis stages and overall fibrosis (%) of the left atrial wall area. The investigators hypothesize that patients with a higher baseline Utah fibrosis staging will experience a higher incidence of POAF. The study also aims to evaluate and compare the in-hospital mortality, length-of-stay (LOS), complication rates (strokes, pneumonia, respiratory failure etc.) of the different Utah fibrosis stage cohorts. Perform cost analysis and compare between patients with POAF and patients without POAF. The investigators hypothesize that patients experiencing POAF will have a higher mortality rate, longer LOS, greater complications, and therefore, additional hospital costs.

Efficacy of Early Rhythm Control Therapy in Patients With Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation

The goal of this study to find out the efficacy of early rhythm therapy in patients with subclinical atrial fibrillation detected by Cardiac Electronic Implantable Devices. Early rhythm therapy includes antiarrhythmic drug, cardioversion, and catheter ablation. The general control group receives general management without the above atrial fibrillation rhythm control treatment. Researchers will compare early rhythm control groups to general control groups to see if early rhythm therapy works to reduce the atrial fibrillation burden by 50% or more, or decrease the incidence of clinical AF documentation. Participants will: * Randomly allocated to two groups at a 1:1 ratio. * Receive the treatment according to their assigned group. * Visit the clinic once every three months for checkups and tests.

Pulsed-Field Ablation for Recurrent Atypical Atrial Flutter

Recurrent atypical atrial flutter (AFL) after prior atrial fibrillation or flutter ablation remains challenging to treat, and conventional radiofrequency ablation may be limited by incomplete lesion formation and risk of collateral damage. Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) uses non-thermal electric fields to create myocardial lesions with relative sparing of surrounding tissues and may improve the safety and efficacy of ablation for atypical AFL. This prospective, non-randomized, single-arm study will enroll approximately 30 patients with clinically documented recurrent atypical AFL who are referred for elective catheter ablation using a point-by-point pulsed-field ablation system. During the index procedure, detailed electroanatomic mapping will be performed to identify the critical isthmus or circuit, followed by linear or focal PFA and confirmation of bidirectional conduction block. The primary safety endpoint is the incidence of procedure- and device-related primary adverse events. The primary effectiveness endpoint is acute procedural success, defined as termination of atypical AFL and establishment of bidirectional block across the targeted lesion set at the end of the procedure. Secondary endpoints include recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia during 12-month follow-up, durability of the linear lesions assessed by repeat electroanatomic mapping at 3 months, changes in atrial scar on cardiac MRI, peri-procedural changes in blood biomarkers, and the rate of serious adverse events related to the procedure or study device.

Intracardiac Echocardiography-Guided Cavotricuspid Isthmus Ablation With a Circular-Shaped Pulsed Field Ablation Catheter

This observational study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a circular-shaped pulsed field ablation (PFA) catheter for CTI ablation under the guidance of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). The main question it aims to answer is: Is the circular-shaped PFA catheter an effective and safe tool for achieving acute success for CTI ablation? Patients undergoing CTI ablation with a circular-shaped PFA catheter will be prospectively enrolled.

Systematic Assessment of Treatment Effectiveness for Long-Term Management of Stable Atrial Tachycardia in Inpatient and Outpatient Environments

The aim is to analyze long-term outcomes in a multicenter observational registry including patients undergoing atrial tachycardia rhythm control.

Detection of Atrial Fibrillation Through Voice Signal Processing

This study is testing a new technology that listens to a person's voice during short phone calls to help identify heart rhythm problems. The goal is to see if voice signal analysis can tell the difference between a normal rhythm (sinus rhythm) and an irregular rhythm (atrial fibrillation). We are enrolling adults scheduled for a standard heart procedure called cardioversion, which is used to reset the heart to a normal rhythm. Each participant will provide voice recordings through three short phone calls: before cardioversion, just after the procedure, and at a follow-up visit. Results will be compared with standard heart rhythm tests (electrocardiograms or ECGs). This research may lead to a simple, low-cost way to monitor heart rhythms remotely without requiring special devices.

Electrophysiological Registry Duesseldorf

This registry at University Hospital Düsseldorf collects retrospective and prospective (from 2019 onward) data on patients undergoing electrophysiological studies (EPS), catheter ablation, and electrical cardioversion. The primary goal is to evaluate safety, efficacy, and clinical outcomes of these standard procedures in routine care. Data will be used for quality assurance and to identify prognostic patient- and procedure-related factors.

Comparison of LAA-Closure vs Oral Anticoagulation in Patients With NVAF and Status Post Intracranial Bleeding.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In atrial fibrillation, there is a risk that clots can form in the heart, especially in the left atrium. If these clots come loose, there is a risk of stroke. To prevent strokes, patients with atrial fibrillation and status post ICB can be treated with anticoagulants. This medication therapy prevents blood clots from forming in the heart, but can also cause bleeding. Another therapy option is the occlusion of the left atrium. After closure of the left atrium, only a short anticoagulation therapy is necessary until the occluder has healed. The aim of the study is to compare these two treatment approaches. In this study only already approved drugs and occlusion systems will be used.

Beta-blockers for Prevention of Supraventricular Arrhythmia Following PFO Closure

"The primary objective of the study is to evaluate whether the incidence of symptomatic or asymptomatic atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and atrial tachycardia within 30 days after percutaneous closure of idiopathic patent foramen ovale is reduced in the beta-blocker treatment group compared to the non-treatment group. The secondary objective is to assess the safety and performance of the Cocoon Patent Foramen Ovale Occluder and collect real-world data on patient outcomes. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the beta-blocker treatment group or the non-treatment group. Randomization will be performed using a 1:1 allocation ratio with stratification based on (1) PFO device size and (2) sex, employing a block randomization method (mixed block sizes of 4 or 6). This process will be conducted independently through an interactive web response system. The beta-blockers used in this study are extended-release beta-blockers, specifically bisoprolol or nebivolol. The choice between bisoprolol and nebivolol will be determined at the discretion of the investigators, with the initial dose set at the minimum dose for each drug (1.25 mg once daily). During the study period, adjustments to the beta-blocker dose, including maintenance or modification, will be made based on the investigators' clinical judgment, taking into account the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and medication adherence. All reasons for dose adjustments will be documented in detail."

Registry of Atrial Arrhythmia Ablation Procedures Using Pulsed Field Ablation in Poland

The aim of the described project is to establish a multicenter, nationwide registry of atrial arrhythmia ablation procedures using the Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) method. These procedures have only recently begun to be performed in several centers across Poland. With proper coordination of the registry, this will enable the consolidation of clinical data and the expansion of knowledge regarding the efficacy and safety of these procedures.

Pericardiotomy in Cardiac Surgery

PRINCE is an international, multicentre, randomized controlled trial of posterior pericardiotomy in patients without a history of atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter undergoing cardiac surgery.

Left Atrial Imaging Prior to Cardioversion: Leveraging Computed Tomography to Rule Out Thrombus in The Emergency Department (LA CLOTTED)

The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF) who require heart imaging to rule out a blood clot before cardioversion would benefit from cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCT) in the emergency department (ED) compared to current standard of care management. This will be a multicenter trial evaluating whether CCT-facilitated cardioversion in the ED reduces hospital admission, reduces repeat presentations to hospital and improves patient quality of life compared to the current standard of care. Participants will undergo CCT-facilitated cardioversion or be treated according to current standard of care while in the ED and complete quality of life questionnaires in the ED and follow-up at 30 days.

The Danish Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulation Study in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

No randomized head-to-head comparison between the individual Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) exists. The DANNOAC-AF study is a nationwide cluster randomized cross-over study comparing efficacy and safety of the four NOACs, edoxaban, apixaban, rivaroxaban and dabigatran for oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter across Danish hospitals and cardiology clinics.

Anteroposterior Versus Anterolateral Electrode Position for Electrical Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) worldwide. Nearly 40 million people are affected by atrial fibrillation worldwide, and this number is expected to increase by over 50% by 2050. Atrial fibrillation can cause strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, poor quality of life and even death. Almost half a million deaths worldwide are expected to be related to atrial fibrillation by 2050, and many billions of dollars are spent on atrial fibrillation related healthcare in North America every year. We believe health outcomes for patients with atrial fibrillation, and healthcare costs associated with treating atrial fibrillation could be improved by optimizing existing treatments for atrial fibrillation and maximizing the likelihood of restoring normal heart rhythm. This allows them to benefit from lower stroke risk, better heart function, fewer symptoms and increased quality of life. Restoring normal sinus rhythm earlier prevents atrial fibrillation from causing permanent structural damage to the heart that in turn, makes atrial fibrillation intractable. Furthermore, patients in whom initial attempts to control atrial fibrillation are unsuccessful frequently require more medications or invasive catheter ablation procedures which are costly and carry substantial risk. Electrical cardioversion is the main way physicians restore normal heart rhythm. In this procedure, the heart is "shocked" back into normal rhythm using two electrodes on the chest. Done correctly, this procedure is safe and effective. Many things are known about electrical cardioversion, for example, the best type and amount of electricity to use. What we don't know is the best position of the electrodes on the chest and whether applying direct, physical pressure to the electrodes makes cardioversion more successful. Our prior research suggests that improving positioning and applying pressure may improve cardioversion, but this finding needs to be verified with a rigorous, dedicated trial. This study will demonstrate whether front-to-back, or front-to-side placement of the electrodes is more effective for electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation. We will also demonstrate whether manually applying pressure to the electrodes makes cardioversion more effective. Should our trial demonstrate a benefit for these techniques, we expect them to be universally applied around the world. Because hundreds of thousands of cardioversions are done each year, even small increases in cardioversion success means thousands fewer patients progress to needing more medications or invasive procedures to manage their atrial fibrillation. We will study consenting adults presenting for non-urgent cardioversion of their atrial fibrillation. After explaining the study to participants and gaining their consent, we will randomly assign them to front-to-side or front-to-back electrode placement. Patients who remain in atrial fibrillation after the first shock will randomly receive either manual pressure or not. We will compare the success of cardioversion for front-side versus front-back electrode placement, and for manual pressure versus none. We will evaluate success by using electrocardiograms to assess for restoration of the heart rhythm back to normal. We hypothesize that anterolateral electrode positioning is superior to anteroposterior electrode positioning. We also hypothesize that manual pressure is effective relative to none, when applied in patients who have had one unsuccessful shock already.

Empiric Pulsed Field Pulmonary Vein Isolation During Atrial Tachycardia Ablation in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease

This is a prospective, single-arm intervention trial whereby we will test the safety and efficacy of performing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using pulsed field ablation (PFA) in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) who are presenting for atrial tachycardia (AT) ablation.

RESOLVE-AF: Clinical Evaluation of the Ablacath™ Mapping Catheter and Ablamap® System Utilizing Electrographic Flow (EGF) Mapping to Resolve Extra-PV Sources of Atrial Fibrillation and Guide Ablation Therapy.

Demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the Ablacath™ Mapping Catheter and Ablamap® System in patients with all types of atrial fibrillation (AF) including paroxysmal or persistent or long-standing persistent, undergoing and De Novo or Redo procedures. Phenotype patients and demonstrate the prognostication power of Electrographic Flow (EGF®) maps among all subjects using 12-month follow-up outcomes following EGF-guided mapping and ablation.

Clinical Cohort Study - TRUST

The "Long-term Outcome and Predictors for Recurrence after Medical and Interventional Treatment of Arrhythmias at the University Heart Center Hamburg" (TRUST) study is an investor-initiated, single-center, prospective clinical cohort study including patients treated with cardiac arrhythmias or at high risk for cardiac arrhythmias. The design enables prospective, low-threshold, near complete inclusion of patients with arrhythmias treated at the UHZ. Collection of routine follow-up data, detailed procedural information and systematic biobanking will enable precise and robust phenotyping.

Risk Factors in Tachycardiomyopathy

Decision between rate control and rhythm control can be a challenge in clinical practice. While there is some guiding evidence, we still lack a comprehensive insight into different subgroups of patients that will benefit from a rhythm control treatment. EMPATHY is a prospective clinical study in patients presenting with heart failure and a tachyarrhythmic rhythm disturbance. Biomarkers, routinely obtained results from clinical examinations, and results from endomyocardial biopsies shall be evaluated to identify patients which have better outcome from a rhythm control strategy by ablation therapy or, if contraindicated by pharmacological rhythm control. This study is designed to identifying risk factors and subgroups profiting from rhythm restoration and therefore improve current therapeutic approaches and the rate of recurrence-free survival.

Storytelling for Reducing Gap in Anticoagulation Use in African Americans With Atrial Fibrillation

The overall goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a previously developed storytelling intervention on anticoagulation (AC) initiation/persistence in African American and Black patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter. The investigators hope to gain knowledge that may help treat atrial fibrillation or flutter and lower stroke and adverse cardiovascular event risks for African American and Black patients by increasing the use of blood thinning medications known as anticoagulants.

Validation of a Novel Smartphone-based Method for Heart Rhythm Monitoring in the Home Environment

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder with increased risk of stroke, heart failure, dementia and death. The severity of symptoms in atrial fibrillation varies markedly, ranging from no symptoms to those with disabling symptoms. An ECG recording is currently mandatory for diagnosing atrial fibrillation. A portable method for heart rhythm diagnostics that is readily available is currently missing in clinical practice. If a standard smartphone could be used for heart rhythm diagnostics, the availability could improve greatly. Treatment with direct current cardioversion is a procedure in which the heart rhythm is normalized by an electrical shock through the chest. Patients with atrial fibrillation are in some cases recommended treatment with direct current cardioversion but the procedure is costly, has a high recurrence rate and includes an increased risk for stroke. In this study we will validate the use of a novel smartphone-based method for heart rhythm diagnostics when used by patients in their home environment. The novel method is using the smartphone camera as a sensor. Patients will be doing heart rhythm measurements with the novel smartphone-based method in their home environment for 30 days after successfully receiving treatment of atrial fibrillation with direct current cardioversion. The novel smartphone-based method will be validated against simultaneous recordings with mobile ECG. We will also study the feasibility in using smartphone recordings and mobile ECG in the home environment the weeks before receiving treatment with direct current cardioversion, to study the possible benefit of detecting spontaneous conversions to normal heart rhythm and missed doses of treatment with blood thinning medication, both of which will lead to cancellation or detention of the cardioversion procedure.