Assessment of Intravenous Rate Control Response in Atrial Fibrillation Trial (AIRCRAFT)

Summary

The Assessment of Intravenous Rate Control Response in Atrial Fibrillation Trial Pilot Study (AIRCRAFT Pilot) is a prospective, unblinded, pragmatic, cluster-level allocation trial. AIRCRAFT compares two medication classes commonly used for rate control in patients in atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate (RVR). The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility and approach to conducting a trial that compares the use of IV beta blockers and IV calcium channel blockers for patients in AF with RVR in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). AF with RVR is considered when the following parameters are met: (1) Cardiac rhythm consistent with AF (2) Heart rate \> 110 bpm. AF with RVR recurrence after conversion to sinus rhythm or prior rate control will count as a new episode of AF with RVR. Rate control agents will be pseudo-randomized to each of the three different MICU teams (beta-blocker, calcium channel blocker and physician preference). Patients are admitted to the three MICU teams on a rotating basis which will allow for pseudo-randomization, the effects of which will be equal between the three teams. Patients will be enrolled in the study if they develop AF with RVR and will be followed until discharge from the MICU. This study aims to assess the adherence and fidelity to treatment assignments in the current novel pilot study protocol which will help inform the feasibility of a larger-scale efficacy trial between IV beta blockers and IV calcium channel blockers for initial management of AF with RVR. Assessment of adherence and fidelity to treatment assignments in management of AF with RVR in the MICU will help inform power calculations and the percent of patients in each study group that received the assigned class of medication will help inform feasibility. Additional aims include assessment of time from medication administration to rate control or sinus conversion as well as identifying optimal means of data extraction (manual vs automated), and incidence of adverse events including hypotension and bradycardia.

Conditions

• Atrial Fibrillation

Interventions

DRUG

Beta-blocker strategy

Clinicians within the intervention groups will be free to use whatever dosing amount and frequency of their assigned medication class that they deem as medically appropriate, including the decision to use intermittent IV boluses versus continuous infusions.

DRUG

Calcium channel blocker strategy

Clinicians within the intervention groups will be free to use whatever dosing amount and frequency of their assigned medication class that they deem as medically appropriate, including the decision to use intermittent IV boluses versus continuous infusions.

DRUG

Physician preference strategy

This strategy allows for "usual care," with providers selecting their preferred rate-control agent. IV beta-blockers available through the inpatient pharmacy include metoprolol or esmolol, and IV calcium channel blockers include diltiazem and verapamil.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Boston University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Allan Walkey, MD · Pulmonary Center Boston Medical Center

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-12-31

Primary Completion

2022-06-30

Completion

2022-06-30

FDA Drug

Yes

Countries

• United States

Study Locations