Curing Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure

Summary

Heart failure is a condition that occurs when the heart muscle weakens and no longer contracts normally. Half of these patients have an irregularity of heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with both heart failure and AF spend more time in hospital, and die earlier than those with heart failure alone. AF is difficult to treat with conventional methods in patients with heart failure. Radiofrequency ablation is a new technique used to cure AF. The investigators aim to establish if radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced heart failure can result in marked improvement in the function of the heart.

Timeline

Start

2007-01

Primary completion

2009-07

Completion

2009-07

Publications

• MacDonald MR, Connelly DT, Hawkins NM, Steedman T, Payne J, Shaw M, Denvir M, Bhagra S, Small S, Martin W, McMurray JJ, Petrie MC. Radiofrequency ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with advanced heart failure and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a randomised controlled trial. Heart. 2011 May;97(9):740-7. doi: 10.1136/hrt.2010.207340. Epub 2010 Nov 4.

Drugs

Indications