The AF Symposium was initiated in 1995 in response to the growing epidemic of atrial fibrillation. Over the past 23 years, the meeting has become a major scientific forum at which health care professionals have a unique opportunity to learn about advances in research and therapeutics directly from many of the most eminent investigators in the field.
This intensive, highly focused three-day symposium brings together the world’s leading medical scientists to share in a highly interactive environment the most recent advances in the field of atrial fibrillation. The primary objective of the meeting is to provide attendees with a thorough and practical course on the current state of the art in the field of atrial fibrillation in a scholarly and collegial atmosphere, as well as an opportunity to network with colleagues and faculty between sessions. The meeting employs advanced teaching tools including real-time and prerecorded case presentations as well as an interactive audience response system to share with attendees the most current basic, translational and clinical science in the field.
Agenda
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
Morning Scientific Session
7 - 7:10 a.m. WELCOME AND OVERVIEW OF THE 23RD ANNUAL AF SYMPOSIUM
Jeremy Ruskin, MD
7:10 - 9:20 a.m. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, RISK FACTORS AND GENETICS
Moderators: Natalia Trayanova, PhD and Stanley Nattel, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A
Aging, Inflammation and Atrial Fibrillation
Jose Jalife, MD
Fibrosis and AF: Insights from Patient-Specific Computational Simulations and Implications for AF Ablation
Natalia Trayanova, PhD
Lean Body Mass as a Common Denominator Connecting Treatable Risk Factors to AF: Evidence and Potential Significance
Stanley Nattel, MD
Linking AF Genetics to New Mechanisms: Are AF Associated Genes Potential Drug Targets?
Patrick Ellinor, MD, PhD
Novel Upstream Targets for AF from Genomics/Transcriptomics
Mina Chung, MD
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (30 minutes)
Moderator: Jose Jalife, MD
9:20 - 9:50 a.m. BREAK, EXHIBITS and ABSTRACTS
9:50 a.m. - Noon STROKE PREVENTION IN AND SCREENING FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Moderators: Elaine Hylek, MD, MPH and Daniel Singer, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A
Current Status of Screening for AF: Frequency, Significance and Limitations of AHREs; How Much Should We Screen?
John Camm, MD
Real-World Data On NOACs and AF: How Is It Generated and What Does It Mean? and Future Trials on Stroke Prevention in AF
Daniel Singer, MD
Factor XIa Inhibitors: A New Class of Anticoagulants with Less Thrombus and Less Bleeding
Elaine Hylek, MD, MPH
Understanding High Intracranial Hemorrhage Risk: Biomarkers and Challenges in Management
M. Edip Gurol, MD
Can Anticoagulation Be Stopped After AF Ablation?
Yes: Francis Marchlinski, MD
No: Elaine Hylek, MD, MPH
(Each speaker 10 minutes; additional comments during panel discussion)
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (30 minutes)
Moderator: John Camm, MD
Noon - 1:15 p.m. LUNCH, EXHIBITS and ABSTRACTS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2018
Afternoon Scientific Session
1:15 - 3:35 p.m. LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE CLOSURE AND CASE TRANSMISSIONS
Moderators: Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD and Jacqueline Saw, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A; case transmissions 30 minutes each
LAA Closure: Current State of the Art and Future Directions
Jacqueline Saw, MD
Case Transmissions - LAA Closure Procedures
Moderator: Vivek Reddy, MD
LAA Closure with ICE Guidance
Claudio Tondo, MD, PhD - Milan, Italy
New Technology for LA Appendage Closure
Tom De Potter, MD - Aalst, Belgium
Anticoagulation After LAA Closure: State of the Art and Future Directions
Vivek Reddy, MD
Role of Octreotide in LAA Closure in Patients with GI Bleeding
Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD
FDA Perspectives on Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Trials: Transforming Data into Evidence
Andrew Farb, MD
3:35 - 4:05 p.m. BREAK, EXHIBITS and ABSTRACTS
4:05 - 4:55 p.m. IF I HAD PERMANENT AF AND PREVIOUS INTRACRANIAL HEMORRHAGE I WOULD CHOOSE:
Moderator: David Keane, MD, PhD
Each lecture 10 minutes
Endocardial LAA Closure
Jacqueline Saw, MD
Epicardial LAA Closure
Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD
Apixaban 5mg B.I.D.
Peter Kowey, MD
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (20 minutes)
Moderator: David Keane, MD, PhD
4:55 - 6:15 p.m. CHALLENGING CASES IN AF MANAGEMENT I: ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS, ANTICOAGULATION, AND CLINICAL DECISION MAKING
Panel and Audience Discussion (10 minutes per case)
Moderator: Eric Prystowsky, MD
Panel: Mina Chung, MD, Peter Kowey, MD, Eric Prystowsky, MD and Jeremy Ruskin, MD
6:15 p.m. ADJOURN
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018
Morning Scientific Session
7 - 9:10 a.m. PHYSIOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL INSIGHTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR AF ABLATION
Moderator: Ulrich Schotten, MD, PhD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A
A Cascade of Accelerating Rotors Precedes Stabilization of Early AF
Jose Jalife, MD
Atrial Myocardial Fiber Orientation In Human Autopsy Hearts: Implications for Transmural Breakthrough, 3-D Reentry and the Role of the LAA
David Keane, MD, PhD
3-D Computer Modelling of Endo-Epicardial Dissociation and Transmural Conduction in AF Using High Density Mapping
Ulrich Schotten, MD, PhD
Atrial Fibrosis: Distribution, Extent and Clinical Characteristics as Predictors of Outcome of AF Ablation - Time for a Fundamental Change in Strategy?
Hans Kottkamp, MD
Atrial Fibrosis: A New Marker for Major Cardiovascular Events
Nassir Marrouche, MD
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (30 minutes)
Moderator: Ulrich Schotten, MD, PhD
9:10 - 9:40 a.m. BREAK, EXHIBITS and ABSTRACTS
9:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. MECHANISM-GUIDED ABLATION OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION AND CASE TRANSMISSIONS
Moderators: Pierre Jais, MD and David Wilber, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A; case transmissions 30 minutes each
Relation Between Rotors and Anatomical Obstacles During Atrial Fibrillation
Sanjiv Narayan, MD, PhD
Identification of AF Drivers and Endpoints for Ablation Using Multielectrode Catheters in Persistent AF
Michel Haissaguerre, MD
Complex Atrial Tachycardias Unmasked by Ultra High Density Mapping
Pierre Jais, MD
Beyond PV Isolation: Randomized Clinical Trials of Adjunctive Ablation Strategies for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (AMAZE, DECAAF II, REAFFIRM)
David Wilber, MD
In What Types of AF Should LA Appendage Ablation Be Considered? Evidence and Patient Selection
Andrea Natale, MD
Case Transmissions - Techniques for Left Atrial Appendage Electrical Isolation as Adjunctive Therapy to PV Isolation in Persistent AF
Bradley Knight, MD - Chicago, IL
Rodney Horton, MD and Andrea Natale, MD - Austin, TX
New Approaches to Modulation of the Autonomic Nervous System in AF: Visualization and Ablation of Ganglionated Plexi
Evgeny Pokushalov, MD, PhD
12:40 - 1:55 p.m. LUNCH, EXHIBITS and ABSTRACTS
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2018
Afternoon Scientific Session
1:55 - 3:35 p.m. NEW TECHNOLOGIES, LATE BREAKING TRIALS, FIRST REPORT INVESTIGATIONS IN AF ABLATION AND CASE TRANSMISSIONS
Moderator: Moussa Mansour, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A; case transmissions 30 minutes each
Real-Time Lesion Formation and Gap Detection During Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using Novel Electro-Anatomical Dielectric Mapping System: 12 Month Follow-Up
Evgeny Pokushalov, MD, PhD
Case Transmission - Lesion Assessment
Petr Neuzil, MD and Vivek Reddy, MD - Prague, Czech Republic
Case Transmission - New Techniques for Esophageal Protection
Kevin Heist, MD, PhD, Conor Barrett, MD, and Moussa Mansour, MD - Boston, MA
HEAT-AF: First Clinical Study On Effects A New Infrared Thermography Probe for Esophageal Protection
Thomas Deneke, MD
3:35 - 4:05 p.m. BREAK, EXHIBITS and ABSTRACTS
4:05 - 6:15 p.m. NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR AF ABLATION (continued)
Moderator: Karl-Heinz Kuck, MD
Prospective Non-Randomized FDA IDE Trial on a New Technology for Localizing Rotors and Focal Drivers of AF
Vivek Reddy, MD
Global Multi-Electrode Contact Mapping and Ablation of AF with a Single Catheter - First Human Experience
Hans Kottkamp, MD
Temperature Controlled Irrigated RF Ablation: Technology and Results
Moussa Mansour, MD
New RF Balloon Technologies for AF Ablation - Results of Multicenter Clinical Studies
Karl-Heinz Kuck, MD
Pulsed Electric Field Ablation: Preclinical Studies Assessing Safety and Efficacy
David Haines, MD
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (30 minutes)
Moderator: Karl-Heinz Kuck, MD
6:15 p.m. ADJOURN
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2018
Morning Scientific Session
7 - 9:30 a.m. CLINICAL TRIALS, GUIDELINES AND REGULATORY ISSUES IN AF MANAGEMENT
Moderator: Douglas Packer, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A
Clinical Trials of New Technologies in AF Ablation: 2018 Update
Hugh Calkins, MD
2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS/SOLAECE Consensus Document on AF Ablation: Implications for Patient Care and Research
Hugh Calkins, MD
Clinical Trials in AF Ablation: What Will CABANA Show and Will It Matter?
Douglas Packer, MD
Regulatory Challenges and Future Directions in AF Ablation Device Development and Evaluation
Mark Fellman
Does AF Ablation Improve Mortality in Congestive Heart Failure: New Insights from the CASTLE-AF Trial
Nassir Marrouche, MD
Ablation Strategies in Patients with AF and Congestive Heart Failure: Practical Considerations and Outcomes
Luigi Di Biase, MD, PhD
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (30 minutes)
Moderator: Douglas Packer, MD
9:30 - 10 a.m. BREAK AND EXHIBITS
10 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. EVOLVING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE SUCCESS AND SAFETY OF AF ABLATION
Moderator: Pierre Jais, MD
All lectures 15 minutes and 5-minute Q&A
Characteristics and Ablation Outcomes in Early Onset AF: Role of One-Year Follow-Up Atrial MR Imaging
Young-Hoon Kim, MD, PhD
High Power Short Duration RF Ablation: Safety and Efficacy - Multicenter Experience
Pierre Jais, MD
What To Do After Three Failed AF Ablations?
Andrea Natale, MD
How to Improve the Speed and Efficiency AF Ablation While Maintaining Safety and Effectiveness
Rob Patrawala, MD
Big Data, Social Media and Monitoring: Optimizing Patient Outcomes in AF
Kevin Campbell, MD
Panel and Audience Q&A and Discussion - All Faculty (30 Minutes)
Moderator: Pierre Jais, MD
12:10 - 12:30 p.m. ALBERT L. WALDO OUTSTANDING ABSTRACT AWARD AND PRESENTATION
Moderators: Jeremy Ruskin, MD and Albert Waldo, MD
12:30 - 1:45 p.m. LUNCH AND EXHIBITS
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2018
Afternoon Scientific Session
1:45 – 3:15 p.m. CHALLENGING CASES IN AF MANAGEMENT II: CATHETER ABLATION AND LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE CLOSURE
Panel and Audience Discussion (10 minutes per case)
Moderator: Pierre Jais, MD
Panel: Pierre Jais, MD, Young-Hoon Kim, MD, PhD, Moussa Mansour, MD, Andrea Natale, MD and Vivek Reddy, MD
3:15 p.m. ADJOURN