Testing a new ablation method to treat atrial fibrillation

Ablation versus anti-arrhythmic therapy for reducing all hospital episodes from recurrent atrial fibrillation

Dr Prapa Kanagaratnam and his team at Imperial College London are working out if a new ablation protocol to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) can help people avoid the need to attend hospital. AF is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm, causing palpitations and breathlessness as well as increasing the chances of stroke. The most effective treatment for AF involves destroying, or ablating, the area of abnormal heart tissue that causes the abnormal rhythm. Trials testing this procedure have measured if ablation can prevent 30 second long episodes of AF, but not if the patients need further treatment or assessment. In this BHF funded project, Dr Kanagaratnam will find out if a new approach called the AVATAR-AF protocol for AF ablation (which is a simpler and shorter procedure than currently used) is better than drug treatment for AF. In a clinical trial, the researchers will compare the new ablation treatment with drug treatment to find out if it reduces the need to attend hospital, which is a good measure of symptom control and reflects a greater benefit to patients. If the AVATAR-AF protocol is at least as safe and effective as current treatment for AF, it could be offered as a more cost-effective ablation procedure for people with AF.