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Kim MY, Coyle C, Tomlinson DR, Sikkel MB, Sohaib A, Luther V, Leong KM, Malcolme-Lawes L, Low B, Sandler B, Lim E, Todd M, Fudge M, Wright IJ, Koa-Wing M, Ng FS, Qureshi NA, Whinnett ZI, Peters NS, Newcomb D, Wood C, Dhillon G, Hunter RJ, Lim PB, Linton NWF, Kanagaratnam P. Ectopy-triggering ganglionated plexuses ablation to prevent atrial fibrillation: GANGLIA-AF study. Heart Rhythm 2022; 19:516-524. [PMID: 34915187 PMCID: PMC8976158 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2021.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ganglionated plexuses (GPs) of the intrinsic cardiac autonomic system may play a role in atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that ablating the ectopy-triggering GPs (ET-GPs) prevents AF. METHODS GANGLIA-AF (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02487654) was a prospective, randomized, controlled, 3-center trial. ET-GPs were mapped using high frequency stimulation, delivered within the atrial refractory period and ablated until nonfunctional. If triggered AF became incessant, atrioventricular dissociating GPs were ablated. We compared GP ablation (GPA) without pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) against PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF. Follow-up was for 12 months including 3-monthly 48-hour Holter monitors. The primary end point was documented ≥30 seconds of atrial arrhythmia after a 3-month blanking period. RESULTS A total of 102 randomized patients were analyzed on a per-protocol basis after GPA (n = 52; 51%) or PVI (n = 50; 49%). Patients who underwent GPA had 89 ± 26 high frequency stimulation sites tested, identifying a median of 18.5% (interquartile range 16%-21%) of GPs. The radiofrequency ablation time was 22.9 ± 9.8 minutes in GPA and 38 ± 14.4 minutes in PVI (P < .0001). The freedom from ≥30 seconds of atrial arrhythmia at 12-month follow-up was 50% (26 of 52) with GPA vs 64% (32 of 50) with PVI (log-rank, P = .09). ET-GPA without atrioventricular dissociating GPA achieved 58% (22 of 38) freedom from the primary end point. There was a significantly higher reduction in antiarrhythmic drug usage postablation after GPA than after PVI (55.5% vs 36%; P = .05). Patients were referred for redo ablation procedures in 31% (16 of 52) after GPA and 24% (12 of 50) after PVI (P = .53). CONCLUSION GPA did not prevent atrial arrhythmias more than PVI. However, less radiofrequency ablation was delivered to achieve a higher reduction in antiarrhythmic drug usage with GPA than with PVI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Young Kim
- Myocardial Function Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Coyle
- Myocardial Function Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David R Tomlinson
- Cardiology Department, Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Markus B Sikkel
- Myocardial Function Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Afzal Sohaib
- Cardiology Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vishal Luther
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin M Leong
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louisa Malcolme-Lawes
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Low
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Belinda Sandler
- Myocardial Function Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elaine Lim
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Todd
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Fudge
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian J Wright
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Koa-Wing
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fu Siong Ng
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Norman A Qureshi
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zachary I Whinnett
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas S Peters
- Myocardial Function Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Newcomb
- Cardiology Department, Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Cherith Wood
- Cardiology Department, Derriford Hospital, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Gurpreet Dhillon
- Cardiology Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ross J Hunter
- Cardiology Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Phang Boon Lim
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas W F Linton
- Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Prapa Kanagaratnam
- Myocardial Function Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; Cardiology Department, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom; Imperial Centre for Cardiac Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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