Heart CT Scan Before Shock Treatment for Irregular Heartbeat in Emergency Care
Tests a heart CT scan to check for clots before shock treatment in adults.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Left Atrial Imaging Prior to Cardioversion: Leveraging Computed Tomography to Rule Out Thrombus in The Emergency Department (LA CLOTTED)
Key facts
- Where
- Ottawa and Toronto, CanadaSee the 2 sites
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults in the emergency department with symptomatic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter who need heart imaging for a blood clot before cardioversion.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join
- Disease stage
- Symptomatic atrial fibrillation with no reversible underlying cause (for example sepsis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, hyperthyroidism). Imaging of the left atrium is needed before cardioversion.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Needs emergency cardioversion (unstable blood pressure or signs of shock, ongoing severe chest pain or marked ST depression on ECG, or pulmonary edema)
- Kidney problems (eGFR under 45ml/min/1.73m2)
- Allergy to intravenous contrast agents
- Pregnancy
- Cannot hold their breath for 20 seconds
Read by machine on 9 November 2026.
Where in Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital - Civic CampusOttawa, CanadaTaking people
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences CentreToronto, CanadaTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
- Trial code
- NCT07002450
- Record updated
- 9 June 2026
- Original description
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF) who require heart imaging to rule out a blood clot before cardioversion would benefit from cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCT) in the emergency department (ED) compared to current standard of care management.Read full original descriptionShow less
Left Atrial Imaging Prior to Cardioversion: Leveraging Computed Tomography to Rule Out Thrombus in The Emergency Department (LA CLOTTED)
The goal of this randomized clinical trial is to learn whether patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF) who require heart imaging to rule out a blood clot before cardioversion would benefit from cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCT) in the emergency department (ED) compared to current standard of care management.
This will be a multicenter trial evaluating whether CCT-facilitated cardioversion in the ED reduces hospital admission, reduces repeat presentations to hospital and improves patient quality of life compared to the current standard of care.
Participants will undergo CCT-facilitated cardioversion or be treated according to current standard of care while in the ED and complete quality of life questionnaires in the ED and follow-up at 30 days.
Inclusion: Age ≥18 years old; and; Primary symptomatic AF without a reversible underlying cause (e.g. sepsis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, hyperthyroidism); LA imaging required before cardioversion according to local clinical practice guidelines.
Exclusion: Patients with an indication for emergency cardioversion (e.g. hemodynamic instability (systolic blood pressure<90mmHg or signs of shock), cardiac ischemia (ongoing severe chest pain or marked ST depression on ECG >2mm), or pulmonary edema (significant dyspnea, crackles, or hypoxia)); or; Contraindication to CCT (renal insufficiency (eGFR< 45ml/min/1.73m2), allergy to intravenous contrast agents, pregnancy (contraindications to radiation exposure), or inability to perform 20-second breath-hold).