Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Trials

The goal of this study is to understand the effects of early mobilization after a Z stitch procedure in patients undergoing certain heart-related treatments. The investigators want to find out if allowing patients to move around sooner after their procedure can improve their satisfaction and potentially lead to earlier discharge from the hospital. Type of Study: Clinical Trial Participant Population/Health Conditions: Patients aged 18-99 undergoing specific heart procedures such as atrial fibrillation treatment, atrial flutter treatment, supraventricular tachycardia treatment, diagnostic electrophysiology studies, AV node ablation, or Watchman device placement. Main Questions: Does early mobilization (getting up and moving around sooner) after the Z stitch procedure improve patient satisfaction? Participants will be divided into two groups, and researchers will compare those who have one hour of bedrest with those who have four hours of bedrest after the Z stitch procedure. The investigators want to see if the shorter bedrest period leads to higher patient satisfaction. Read Less

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and the prevalence increase with age. Autonomic nervous system play a critical role in the initiation and maintenance of AF. The intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system includes ganglionated plexus (GP) modulate the level of parasympathetic activity to the heart. Experimental and clinical studies suggest that GP activation plays a significant role in clinical AF in both the initiation of and the maintenance of AF. Synaptic plasticity is defined as the ability of synapses to change their strength of transmission. Plasticity of synaptic connections in the brain is a major focus of neuroscience research, as it is the primary mechanism underpinning learning and memory. Beyond the brain however, plasticity in peripheral neurons is less well understood, particularly in the GP neurons innervating the heart. The ability of these neurons to alter parasympathetic activity suggests that plasticity may indeed occur at the synapses formed on and by GP neurons. Such changes may not only fine-tune autonomic innervation of the heart, but could also be a source of maladaptive plasticity during atrial fibrillation. Low level tragus stimulation (LLTS) has been shown to decrease AF burden among patients with paroxysmal AF. However, the exact mechanism remains unclear. The objective of this study is to examine changes in synaptic density of GP neurons in patients with paroxysmal AF and persistent AF compared to those without AF undergoing cardiac surgery. In addition, we aim to examine the effect of LLTS on the synaptic plasticity of the GP neurons. A group of patients undergoing open heart surgery will be randomized to active LLTS for 30 min (pulse width of 200 μs, amplitude of 20 mA and a pulse frequency of 20 Hz) or no stimulation. Biopsy from GP tissue will be taken immediately after stimulation and histological staining for choline acetyl transferase (ChAT), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and synaptophysin will be performed to examine synaptic plasticity. Understanding the effect of LLTS on GP SP will help to determine whether changes in synaptic plasticity can increase or decrease autonomic tone of the heart, and its role in generating the aberrant electrical impulses in the GP around the pulmonary veins that can trigger and drive AF. Read Less

Low level transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (LLTS) involves delivery of electrical impulses transcutaneously at the auricular branch of vagus nerve and it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-arrhythmic effects. In previous studies from our laboratory, we found that LLTS significantly suppressed atrial fibrillation (AF) inducibility and decreased AF duration. The anti-arrhythmic effects of LLTS were similar to those delivered to the cervical VN trunk. LLTS for just one hour significantly shortened the AF duration and decreased inflammatory cytokines. We have also shown that LLTS leads to favorable heart rate variability (HRV) changes and cardiac mechanics in patients with diastolic dysfunction. These results support the use of LLTS as a novel non-pharmacological, non-ablative treatment modality for AF and possibly other inflammatory conditions. However, the optimal stimulation parameters of LLTS remain to be determined. In this study, we aim to examine the effect of 2 different frequencies (5Hz and 20Hz) and 2 different amplitudes (50% below the pain threshold and 1mA below the pain threshold) of LLTS on heart rate variability with deep breathing (HRVdb), mental arithmetic stress test (MAST), frequency domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and brain stem evoked potentials (BSEVP) in healthy volunteers and patients with AF or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HRV is a marker of vagus nerve activity and can be easily measured by software calculating the distance between consecutive R waves on the ECG. BSEVP are a surrogate for the central projections of the vagus nerve. Patients will be randomized into 4 groups in a 2x2 factorial design. LLTS will be delivered through a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) device for 15 minutes. HRVdb, HRV and BSEVP will be measured before and after LLTS and compared. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to learn more about the normal care of patients with a new or pre-existing diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). These abnormal and irregular heartbeats place patients at increased risk of developing clots in their bloodstream that could potentially lead to stroke. Normal care is designed to help prevent this from happening and to lessen or eliminate the symptoms patients may have. There are many different types of AF as well as numerous ways in which a variety of patients are treated. The investigators are interested in gathering more information to better keep track of patient treatment patterns (trends) that may differ from physician to physician, hospital to hospital, medication to medication, patient to patient and if necessary, procedure to procedure. Read Less

This study will enroll patients initiating Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitors without history of documented arrhythmia while on therapy using the Medtronic LINQ-2 insertable cardiac monitor (ILR). The incidence of new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) and other arrhythmia will be determined. Actions taken in response to device detected arrhythmia will be recorded. Read Less

The purpose of the study is to evaluate a new radiotracer called 64Cu-FBP8 for PET-MR imaging of thrombosis. The tracer has the potential of detecting thrombosis anywhere in the body, for instance in the left atrial appendage of patients with atrial fibrillation, and thereby may provide a non-invasive alternative to the current standard-of-care methods. Read Less

This is a cohort study to evaluate algorithms for mapping atrial fibrillation by mapping atrial structure and mapping electrical activity to detect focal and rotational activity. Read Less

In a prospective, observational pilot study of patients scheduled for an atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation at the University of Vermont Medical Center the investigators will compare exercise capacity before and four months after AF ablation. Read Less

The goal of this study is to test the feasibility of guiding as-needed pharmacological rate control of atrial fibrillation (AF) by implantable cardiac monitors and to assess the impact of continuous beta-blocker therapy versus as-needed rate control on the following outcomes: (1) exercise capacity, (2) AF burden, (3) symptomatic heart failure, (4) biomarker assessment of cardiac filling pressures and cardio-metabolic health, and (5) quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation and stage II or III heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Read Less

The Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Registry (AFib Ablation Registry™) is designed to assess the prevalence, demographics, management, and outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous catheter ablation procedures to treat atrial fibrillation (AF). Read Less

Background and Significance: In the United States approximately 220,000 patients undergo cardiac surgery per annum. Among potential complications, the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is estimated at 30 - 60 %, and therefore presents the most common adverse event after cardiac surgery. Multiple complications may be associated with AF: Patients are usually subject to an increased length-of-stay in the intensive care unit and in the hospital. Furthermore, the risk for stroke and development of long-term AF is elevated, while further anticoagulation is required putting the patient at risk for bleeding. On average, an additional $10,000 - $20,000 is spent for each patient with AF. However, the exact burden of postoperative AF still remains unknown. Specific Aims of Research Project: 1. To collect data from an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring patch, we aim to accurately determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery at our center. 2. To collect data on epidemiological characteristics to investigate risk factors for developing perioperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This will allow us to create robust risk prediction models. Read Less

Atrial fibrillation is a type of irregular heartbeat that is common after having heart surgery. There may be many different reasons why some people get atrial fibrillation after their heart surgery. These reasons may include that a person is older or that he/she is taking certain types of medications before surgery. Genes may also be a reason. Genes contain the material passed from parent to child that determines the make-up of the body and mind. For example, some genes control the color of your hair or eyes. Some people may have genes that make it more likely for them to get atrial fibrillation after their heart surgery. This research project is being done to find out if the cells of people who develop atrial fibrillation after heart surgery are different from the cells in people who do not develop atrial fibrillation after surgery. Read Less