Left Atrial Ablation With Permanent Pacemaker or ImplanTable Loop Recorder Follow-UP

Left Atrial Ablation With Permanent Pacemaker or ImplanTable Loop Recorder Follow-UP

The purpose of this study is 3 fold:-

1. To compare the efficacy and complication rates of 2 widely used methods, conventional irrigation tip ablation catheter (LASSO) and Ablation Frontiers ablation technology, of AF ablation for PAF.
2. To evaluate the Reveal XT ILR as a long term accurate AF monitoring device as compared to the 'gold standard' DDD pacemaker Holter.
3. To accurately evaluate, by continuous rhythm monitoring for 1 year, the efficacy of AF ablation therapy for PAF.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient aged 16-80 years old.
• Symptomatic PAF with AF episodes self terminating after at least 30 seconds but not longer than 24 hours. Preference is given to patients with AF episodes lasting no longer than 4 hours.
• PAF should have failed at least one drug therapy medical therapy.
• Patients must give written informed consent form prior to participating in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient is suffering with unstable angina in last 1 week.
• Patient has had a myocardial infarction within last 2 months.
• Patient is expecting or has had major cardiac surgery within last 2 months.
• Patient is participating in a conflicting study.
• Patient is mentally incapacitated and cannot consent or comply with follow-up.
• Patient has NYHA class III/ IV heart failure.
• Patients with severe valvular or ventricular dysfunction.
• Pregnancy.
• Patient suffers with other cardiac rhythm disorders.
• Recent coronary artery intervention or other factors suggesting clinical instability (ECG, clinical or laboratory findings)