Treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation using specialized devices during heart surgery

Irrigated Radio Frequency Ablation to Terminate Non-Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (Terminate AF Study)

Not applicable Interventional Medtronic Cardiac Surgery · NCT03546374

This study tests if special devices used during heart surgery can safely help people with persistent atrial fibrillation feel better.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment160 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMedtronic Cardiac Surgery Industry-sponsored
Locations15 sites (Palo Alto, California and 14 other locations)
Trial IDNCT03546374 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of the Cardioblate iRF and CryoFlex handheld devices for treating non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. It is a multi-center, single-arm, prospective, non-randomized interventional study involving up to 160 subjects across 25 centers in the US. Participants will be followed for 12 months post-procedure to assess outcomes related to the intervention.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with a history of persistent or longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation who require non-emergent open-heart surgery.

Not a fit: Patients with contraindications for anticoagulation therapy or severe heart conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a new effective treatment option for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac surgery.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar surgical ablation techniques for atrial fibrillation, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* History of non-paroxysmal AF (persistent or longstanding persistent)
* Concomitant indication for non-emergent open-heart surgery, eg,

  1. Coronary artery bypass grafting
  2. Valve repair or replacement
* Able to take the anticoagulant warfarin or novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
* New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class = IV
* Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction ≤ 30%
* Need for emergent cardiac surgery (ie, cardiogenic shock) or redo open heart surgery
* Previous AF ablation, atrioventricular (AV) -nodal ablation, or surgical Maze procedure
* Contraindication for anticoagulation therapy
* Left atrial diameter \> 6.0 cm
* Preoperative need for an intra-aortic balloon pump or intravenous inotropes
* Renal failure requiring dialysis or hepatic failure
* Life expectancy of less than 1 year
* Predicted risk of operative mortality \>10% as assessed by STS Risk Calculator
* Pregnancy or desire to be pregnant within 12 months of the study treatment
* Current diagnosis of active systemic infection
* Active endocarditis
* Documented MI 30 days prior to study enrollment
* Current or planned participation in an investigational or observational drug or device trial related to the treatment of atrial arrhythmias

Where this trial is running

Palo Alto, California and 14 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Persistent Atrial FibrillationLongstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.