Combined Ablation and Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Who can take part

• Subject must provide written informed consent prior to any clinical investigation-related procedure
• 18 years of age or older, or the age of legal consent
• CHA2DS2-VASc score of ≥ 3 for women and ≥ 2 for men
• Able to stop anticoagulation by 90 days post index procedure
• Able to adhere to the protocol defined post-concomitant procedure pharmacologic regimen of OAC for at least 60 days followed by SAPT
• Plans to undergo a catheter ablation procedure including PVI due to symptomatic, recurrent, drug-refractory PAF or PersAF
• Documented symptomatic PAF or PersAF. Documentation requirements are as follows:; Paroxysmal:
• Physician's note indicating recurrent self-terminating AF with ≥ 2 episodes of PAF within the 12 months prior to enrollment AND
• One electrocardiographically documented PAF episode within 12 months prior to enrollment; Persistent: Continuous AF sustained beyond 7 days and less than 1 year that is documented by
• Physician's note, AND either
• 24-hour Holter within 180 days prior to enrollment, showing continuous AF, OR
• Two electrocardiograms (from any form of rhythm monitoring) showing continuous AF:; That are taken at least 7 days apart but less than 12 months apart; If electrograms are more than 12 months apart, there must be one or more Sinus Rhythm recordings in between or within 12 months prior to consent/enrollment; The most recent electrocardiogram must be within 180 days of enrollment; NOTE: Documented evidence of the AF episode must either be continuous AF on a 12-lead ECG or include at least 30 seconds of continuous AF from another ECG device

Who cannot take part

• Patients who have undergone any invasive intervention or surgery within 30 days prior to the index procedure (diagnostic catheterization is not within scope, however, percutaneous coronary intervention is within scope)
• Patients who have experienced stroke or transient ischemic attack within 90 days prior to study procedure
• Patients who have had previous attempt at LAA surgical or epicardial intervention (e.g., stapling, suturing, ligation, epicardial LAA management device)
• Patients previously diagnosed long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (Continuous AF greater than 1 year in duration)
• Patients with arrhythmia due to reversible causes including thyroid disorders, acute alcohol intoxication, electrolyte imbalance, severe untreated sleep apnea, and other major surgical procedures within 90 days prior to the study procedure
• Known contraindication or allergy to NOACs or aspirin, preventing use of the drugs post-procedure
• Patients with heart prosthetic valves
• Patients with NYHA Class IV heart failure
• Patients with severe renal failure (estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1.73m2) or on chronic dialysis
• Patients with severe pulmonary disease (e.g., restrictive pulmonary disease, constrictive or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or any other disease or malfunction of the lungs or respiratory system that produces severe chronic symptoms
• Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (maximal LV wall thickness ≥ 15 mm in the absence of abnormal loading conditions such as hypertension or aortic stenosis)
• Required to take P2Y12 platelet inhibitor after the study procedure (e.g., due to percutaneous coronary intervention)
• Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤30%
• Patient implanted with an inferior vena cava filter
• Patients unable to receive heparin or an acceptable alternative to achieve adequate intra-procedural anticoagulation
• Patients with a stent, constriction, or stenosis in a pulmonary vein
• Patients with severe mitral regurgitation (regurgitant volume ≥ 60 mL/beat, regurgitant fraction ≥ 50%, and/or effective regurgitant orifice area ≥ 0.40cm2)