Principal Investigator: Saibal Kar, MD
IRB Approval Number: 6687
Contact: Diana Remba (310) 423-6586
Recruiting
Summary: The objective of this study is to block off the left atrial appendage via an approach through the skin to prevent formation of clots in the left atrial appendage. This randomized study is comparing best medical treatment with coumadin versus percutaneous closure as treatment option for the prevention of stroke in patients with chronic or intermittent atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beats).
Principal Investigator: Walter Kerwin, MD
IRB Approval Number: 9098
Contact: Edna Ross (310) 289-5901
Recruiting
Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine whether catheter cryoablation (freezing) is safe and effective for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beats) as well as to see if this treatment is better compared to a controlled group that will use one of three common medications for irregular heartbeat. This catheter system uses the freezing energy, cryoablation, to ablate abnormal tissue in or near the pulmonary veins. Cryoablation offers potential advantages. It may have a lower risk of creating endocardial thrombus, pulmonary vein narrowing and permanent nerve damage than heat-based ablation. Tissue cooling during cryoablation can be rapidly reversed, allowing minimization of unwanted damage while monitoring for adverse effects to conduction tissue and adjacent nerves. To be eligible for the study, patients should have documented paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) AND 2 or more episodes of AF during the 2 months preceding study enrollment, at least 1 of which must be documented.
