Conclusion Our systemic review and meta- analysis revealed further evidence that cryoballoon ablation is an equally effective alternative procedure to the st and ard radiofrequency treatment with a slightly , non-significant higher freedom from AF 1 year after the ablation and a shorter procedure time
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety outcomes of the treatment with cryoballoon ( CB ) compared to the treatment with traditional irrigated radiofrequency ablation ( RF ) for pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( pAF ) and refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy ( AAD ) .
Point-by-Point Radiofrequency Ablation Versus the Cryoballoon or a Novel Combined Approach: A Randomized Trial Comparing 3 Methods of Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (The Cryo Versus RF Trial).
INTRODUCTION Catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF using the Cryoballoon ( CRYO ) has yielded similar success rates to conventional wide encirclement using radiofrequency catheter ablation ( RFCA ) , but r and omized data are lacking . Pilot data suggested a high success rate with a combined approach ( COMBINED ) using wide encirclement with RFCA followed by 2 CRYO applications to each vein . We compared these 3 strategies in a r and omized controlled trial . METHODS AND RESULTS Patients undergoing first time paroxysmal AF ablation were r and omized to RFCA , CRYO , or COMBINED . Patients were followed up at 3 , 6 , and 12 months with 7 days of ambulatory ECG monitoring . Success was defined as freedom from arrhythmia without antiarrhythmic drugs after a single procedure . A total of 237 patients were r and omized . Success at 1 year was achieved in 47 % in the RFCA group , 67 % in the CRYO group , and 76 % in the COMBINED group ( P < 0.001 for RFCA vs. CRYO , P<0.001 for RFCA vs. COMBINED , and P = 0.220 for CRYO vs. COMBINED ) . Procedure time was 211 ( IQR 174 - 256 ) minutes for RFCA compared to 167 ( 136 - 202 ) minutes for CRYO and 278 ( 243 - 327 ) minutes for COMBINED ( P < 0.001 for RFCA vs. COMBINED , RFCA vs. CRYO , and CRYO vs. COMBINED groups ) . CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal AF is faster with CRYO and results in a higher single procedure success rate than conventional point by point RFCA . The COMBINED approach was not superior to CRYO alone
Conclusion Our systemic review and meta- analysis revealed further evidence that cryoballoon ablation is an equally effective alternative procedure to the st and ard radiofrequency treatment with a slightly , non-significant higher freedom from AF 1 year after the ablation and a shorter procedure time
Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety outcomes of the treatment with cryoballoon ( CB ) compared to the treatment with traditional irrigated radiofrequency ablation ( RF ) for pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ( pAF ) and refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy ( AAD ) .