Why the study?
PVI has modest success in persistent AF, and additional linear ablation has not proved superior to PVI alone. It was unknown whether combining linear ablation with ethanol infusion of the vein of Marshall improves sinus rhythm maintenance over PVI alone.
Does linear ablation combined with ethanol infusion of the vein of Marshall (EIVOM) added to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) improve freedom from atrial arrhythmias compared to PVI alone in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation?
Population
498 patients aged 18 to 80 years with persistent AF undergoing first-time AF ablation
Comparison
PVI plus EIVOM and linear ablation vs PVI alone
Design
Multicenter open-label randomized trial
Follow-up
12 months
Key result
PVI plus EIVOM and linear ablation significantly improved freedom from atrial arrhythmias at 12 months compared with PVI alone (70.7% vs 61.5%; HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.54-0.99; P=0.045).
Authors
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Supports adjunctive EIVOM plus linear ablation with PVI in persistent AF; extends RCT evidence for strategies beyond isolation alone.
RCT (n=498)
open-label
randomized
Yes
Does linear ablation combined with ethanol infusion of the vein of Marshall (EIVOM) added to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) improve freedom from atrial arrhythmias compared to PVI alone in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation?
Hazard Ratio: 0.73 (95% CI 0.54–0.99)
Absolute Event Rate: 70.7% vs 61.5%
p-value: p=.045
In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, adding ethanol infusion of the vein of Marshall and linear ablation to pulmonary vein isolation significantly improved 12-month freedom from atrial arrhythmias compared to pulmonary vein isolation alone.
Sang et al. (2024) conducted an RCT in persistent atrial fibrillation (n=498). PVI plus EIVOM and linear ablation vs. PVI alone was evaluated on freedom from any documented atrial arrhythmias lasting more than 30 seconds, without the use of antiarrhythmic drugs within 12 months (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54-0.99, p=.045). PVI plus EIVOM and linear ablation significantly improved freedom from atrial arrhythmias at 12 months compared with PVI alone (70.7% vs 61.5%; HR 0.73; 95% CI 0.54-0.99; P=0.045).
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