Press Release
A Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute Study Reveals Catheter Ablation Superior to Drug Therapy as First-Line Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation
08/08/2012
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute's Preliminary FindingsPresented at Heart Rhythm Society's Annual Scientific Meeting
Recently, physicians at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) presented preliminary findings of a study that reveals patients with atrial fibrillation (A Fib) who received first-line catheter ablation treatment were free from arrhythmias longer than patients who receive antiarrhythmic drugs, the standard first-line treatment. The findings were presented at the Heart Rhythm Society's (HRS) 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston, Heart Rhythm 2012.
The study, First Line Radiofrequency Ablation versus Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation Treatment (RAAFT): A Multicentre Randomized Trial, found that radiofrequency catheter ablation significantly extended the time until the first recurrence of A Fib, atrial tachyarrhythmia, atrial flutter and asymptomatic A Fib in patients with paroxysmal A Fib who had not been previously treated with an antiarrhythmic drug, compared to treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs. Paroxysmal A Fib is defined as recurrent (two or more) episodes of A Fib that end spontaneously within seven days.
“This study demonstrated radiofrequency A Fib ablation to be safe and superior to drug therapy in extending time until the first recurrence of symptomatic or asymptomatic A Fib, atrial tachyarrhythmia and atrial flutter,” Andrea Natale, M.D., F.H.R.S., F.A.C.C., F.E.S.C., cardiac electrophysiologist, executive medical director of TCAI and co-principal investigator for the study, said. “In addition to a relative risk reduction of 44 percent, the incidence of protocol-specified, treatment-related adverse safety events was 20 percent for the drug-arm subjects versus 8 percent for the RF ablation-arm subjects.”
The study was a multicenter, unblinded, parallel-arm clinical trial involving 127 patients with paroxysmal A Fib. Patients were followed for two years.
A Fib is the most common cardiac arrhythmia that affects the electrical system, or “wiring,” of the heart muscle. Leading medical societies, including the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and the European Society of Cardiology, recommend catheter ablation as second-line therapy for A Fib. The most common first-line treatment is anti-arrhythmia drugs; however, in certain patients, they are not effective.
In addition to the presentation of the RAAFT clinical trial during Heart Rhythm 2012, TCAI's research efforts were recognized with the acceptance of 18 additional abstracts. Three staff members, five research fellows and six nurses and techs from TCAI attended the HRS sessions.
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute
Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute (TCAI) at St. David's Medical Center is one of the world's preeminent centers dedicated to the latest treatment advances for correcting abnormal heart rhythms such as Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib). The center is led by Executive Medical Director Andrea Natale, M.D., a world-renowned expert in the field. Natale is at the forefront of advancing treatment for A Fib, leading numerous clinical trials and participating in the development of new technologies and procedures. For more information, please visit TCAInstitute.com.
St. David's Medical Center
St. David's Medical Center is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized in January 2012 as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of healthcare. Founded in 1924, St. David's Medical Center is a full-service medical center offering comprehensive medical care at three locations-St. David's Medical Center, located at 919 East 32nd Street in Austin; Heart Hospital of Austin, located at 3801 North Lamar Blvd.; and St. David's Georgetown Hospital, located in Georgetown at 2000 Scenic Drive. The three campuses offer a full range of medical specialties, as well as many other innovative health care services.
St. David's Medical Center in central Austin includes a 350-bed acute care hospital and a freestanding, 64-bed rehabilitation hospital providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. St. David's Medical Center provides a complete range of women's services, including its acclaimed maternity unit, maternal fetal medicine, a high-risk maternal and neonatal transport team, the region's largest and most sophisticated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Breast Center, and a fertility center; is home to the internationally acclaimed Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute; NeuroTexas Institute (including the TIA Center for Stroke Prevention and designation as a Primary Stroke Center); complex surgical services; a comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Center; and a 24-hour emergency department.
Thomson Reuters named St. David's Medical Center to the list of 100 Top Hospitals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. In June 2012, the hospital earned a national distinction for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health benefits. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.
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