Pulsed Field Ablation for the Treatment of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Pulmonary Vein Plus Superior Vena Cava Isolation Versus Pulmonary Vein Isolation Alone-A Prospective, Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Study

NCT07819175 | Not Yet Recruiting FDA Device

• 1 other identifier: PULSED-SVC Trial
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 340
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

his study is for people aged 18 to 75 who have persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib) that has lasted less than one year and who are having their first catheter ablation procedure. Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm problem. A standard treatment is a catheter procedure called pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), which uses energy to disconnect the pulmonary veins from the rest of the heart. However, in persistent AFib, the heart rhythm often returns after PVI alone. Some people also have abnormal electrical signals coming from a large vein above the right atrium called the superior vena cava (SVC). This study tests whether adding SVC isolation (SVCI) to the standard PVI procedure works better than PVI alone. The study will use pulsed field ablation (PFA), a newer non-heating technology that targets heart muscle cells and may cause less damage to nearby structures such as the food pipe and nerves. About 340 participants will be enrolled from around 10 hospitals in China. Using a computer process, half will be assigned to PVI alone and half to PVI plus SVC isolation. Neither the doctor nor the participant will be blinded to the group assignment because the difference between the two procedures is visible. All participants will be followed for 12 months after the procedure. The main question is: after a 3-month healing period, how many people stay free from AFib and other atrial rhythm problems for the remaining 9 months without needing more ablation or new rhythm medicines? The study also looks at safety, quality of life, hospital stays, and whether the heart rhythm returns.

Conditions

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Treatment success from 3 months after the ablation (after the blanking period) through the 12-month follow-up

  3 months after the ablation (after the blanking period) through the 12-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial tachycardia (AT), or atrial flutter (AFL) during the 3-month blanking period after the index ablation

  From the index ablation through 3 months after the index ablation

• Time to first recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial tachycardia (AT), or atrial flutter (AFL)

  From the index ablation through 12 months after the index ablation

• Change in quality of life from baseline, as assessed by the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality-of-Life (AFEQT)

  From baseline through 12 months after the index ablation

• Change in quality of life from baseline, as assessed by the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) scores

  From baseline through 12 months after the index ablation

• Incidence of cardiovascular-related rehospitalization

  From the index ablation through 12 months after the index ablation

Study Arms (2)

Pulsed Field Ablation with a catheter for Pulmonary Vein Isolation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Device: Pulsed Field Ablation - pulmonary vein isolation

Pulsed Field Ablation with a catheter for Pulmonary Vein Isolation plus Superior Vena Cava Isolation

EXPERIMENTAL

Device: Pulsed Field Ablation - Pulmonary Vein Isolation + Superior Vena Cava Isolation

Interventions

Pulsed Field Ablation - pulmonary vein isolation DEVICE

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) using a commercially available pulsed field ablation catheter to perform pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Ablation is performed sequentially at each pulmonary vein and the pulmonary vein antrum, with the procedural endpoint of durable bidirectional electrical isolation.

Pulsed Field Ablation with a catheter for Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Pulsed Field Ablation - Pulmonary Vein Isolation + Superior Vena Cava Isolation DEVICE

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) using a commercially available pulsed field ablation catheter to perform pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) followed by electrophysiological assessment for superior vena cava (SVC) triggers and additional superior vena cava isolation (SVCI) at the SVC-right atrium junction.

Pulsed Field Ablation with a catheter for Pulmonary Vein Isolation plus Superior Vena Cava Isolation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Persistent atrial fibrillation (AFib) duration \< 1 year;
• Age 18-75 years;
• Willing to participate in this study, capable of understanding, and has signed the informed consent form; able to complete postoperative follow-up according to the protocol.

You may not qualify if:

• Significant cardiac dysfunction or structural abnormality: LVEF \< 50% or left atrial anteroposterior diameter \> 46 mm;
• Previous left atrial ablation or cardiac surgery (including left atrial appendage closure);
• Presence of permanent pacemaker, CRT, implantable cardiac monitor, or any type of ICD;
• Previous pulmonary vein stent, pulmonary vein stenosis, or superior vena cava stenosis;
• Previous unilateral phrenic nerve palsy;
• Any prosthetic heart valve or moderate-to-severe (grade 3-4) valvular regurgitation/stenosis;
• Any cardiac surgery, myocardial infarction, PCI/PTCA, or coronary stent implantation within 3 months prior to signing informed consent;
• Unstable angina, NYHA class III/IV heart failure, primary pulmonary hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy;
• Thrombocytosis/thrombocytopenia, any disease contraindicating long-term anticoagulation, active systemic infection;
• Atrial fibrillation due to reversible causes (e.g., hyperthyroidism);
• Stroke or TIA within 6 months prior to signing informed consent;
• Pregnant or lactating women;
• Life expectancy \< 1 year;
• Currently participating in or expected to participate in another drug/device/biologic clinical trial during the study period;
• Intracardiac thrombus, drug or alcohol addiction, unwillingness or inability to complete follow-up;

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ruijin Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ruijin Hostpial Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Atrial Fibrillation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Tianyou Ling

CONTACT

+8618930235117; lty11498@rjh.com.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Chief Physician

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 8, 2026
• First Posted: September 14, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): October 8, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2028
• Last Updated: September 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-09

Locations

CN (1)