Safety and Outcome of Cryoballoon Ablation versus Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of the Pulmonary Veins in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

A trial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance, increasing in prevalence with age. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has become the mainstream therapy for patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal AF, since PV foci were discovered as the trigger for its initiation and perpetuation. The efficacy and safety of catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF have been reported by several randomized studies. Although focal RF catheters have been the standard of care for AF ablation, balloon-based technologies were developed to deliver ablative energy in a more continuous pattern without conduction gaps during cardiac tissue isolation. Since the release of the first-generation cryoballoon, data from both single-centre studies and multicentre registries have demonstrated acute PVI and freedom from AF at rates comparable to those of RF. Aim of the study: This study aims to compare between cryoballoon ablation and radiofrequency catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in terms of safety, efficacy and long term follow up.