1. AFACT
Trial design: Patients with long-standing atrial fibrillation were randomized to ganglion plexus ablation (n = 117) vs. control (n = 123) on top of pulmonary vein isolation and additional left atrial lines via thoracoscopy.
Results
(p = 0.70)
No atrial fibrillation recurrences: 70.9% of the ganglion plexus group vs. 68.4% of the control group (p = 0.70)
Total procedure-related adverse events: 19% in the ganglion plexus group vs. 8% in the control group (p = 0.022)
Bleeding: 8% in the ganglion plexus group vs. 0 in the control group (p = 0.001)
70.9
68.4 %
Conclusions
Among patients with long-standing atrial fibrillation, ganglion plexus block was unsuccessful at achieving a higher frequency of freedom from atrial fibrillation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation
Ganglion plexus block
Control
Driessen AH, et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2016;68: