Pacing in prevention of atrial fibrillation: The PIPAF studies

The PIPAF trials are a set of randomized multicenter studies which seeks to evaluate the potential preventive effect of different modes of pacing in p atients with drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by means of a p ermanent pacemaker. The objective of the studies are (1) to significantly p rolong the time to first recurrence of atrial arrhythmia and (2) to signifi cantly reduce the cumulative arrhythmia duration. The role of the atrial pa cing site (left or right), the overdriving of the sinus rate, and the suppr ession of the post extrasystolic compensatory pause are evaluated alone or in association, giving rise to four distinct pacing protocols. Over a perio d of 2 years, 220 patients will be included in 35 centers from 5 different countries.