Randomized Trial of Two Ablation Catheters in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

A Single Centre, Randomized, Single Blinded Trial of Wide Area Circumferential Ablation With Pulmonary Vein Isolation Compared to a Multipolar, Circular Ablation Catheter in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a chaotic heart rhythm of the top chambers of the heart. AF occurs in up to 10% of the population over the age of 60. It is associated with tiredness, impaired functional capacity and is the cause of up to 10% of strokes.

Ablation is a procedure performed with small tubes (catheters) that are introduced through the top of the leg. Burns are made inside of the heart to treat AF. This procedure has been shown to cure 90% of patients with intermittent (paroxysmal) AF.

The investigators currently use either one of two different catheters to create these burns inside the heart. The investigators do not know which is the best catheter to use in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

The investigators study will randomly allocate patients to have their ablation performed by either one of the catheters to give a fair comparison between the two. The investigators objective is to study the differences between these two catheters.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with paroxysmal AF with a planned ablation procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior AF ablation
• LA size greater than 60mm
• Mechanical prosthetic MVR
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy