Conclusion In patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation  , cryoballoon and radiofrequency ablation produce similar results in terms of freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation or atrial tachyarrhythmias but with a different safety profile , being cryoballoon ablation less associated with cardiac complications but more likely to cause phrenic nerve palsy
Aims To perform an up date d meta- analysis to assess efficacy , safety and technical performance of pulmonary vein isolation using cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation .
Visualization of multiple catheters with electroanatomical mapping reduces X-ray exposure during atrial fibrillation ablation.
AIMS Atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation still requires long procedural time and high radiation exposure with its related risk for the patient and the operators . This study was design ed to compare three different approaches of AF ablation to verify the hypothesis that image integration with electroanatomic mapping allows minimal use of fluoroscopy . Therefore , we evaluated the procedure and fluoroscopy times of ablation using three imaging modalities : conventional fluoroscopy , image integration electroanatomic mapping , and a new electroanatomic mapping system that provides visualization of multiple catheters . METHODS AND RESULTS One hundred and twenty patients with symptomatic refractory AF were enrolled in the study . Patients were r and omly assigned to fluoroscopy alone ( Group A , 40 patients ) , electroanatomic integration ( Cartomerge ® , Group B , 40 patients ) , and electroanatomic integration plus catheters visualization ( Carto ® 3 System , Group C , 40 patients ) guided procedures . The ablation procedure aim ed at isolating the pulmonary veins and creating lesion lines at the left atrial roof and left isthmus . Procedure and fluoroscopy parameters were recorded in all patients . Total procedure time and skin to catheter positioning time did not significantly differ between the groups . Total fluoroscopy time was statistically different between all three groups ( Group A , 18'09″±5'00″ ; Group B , 9'48″±3'41″ ; Group C , 2'28″±1'40″ ; P<0.001 ) . A significant difference was noted in ablation fluoroscopy time between all groups ( P<0.001 ) , mainly due to shortened fluoroscopy time in Group B ( 7'34″±3'15″ ) and Group C ( 0'21″±0'31″ ) when compared with Group A ( 16'07″±5'04″ ) . CONCLUSION Image integration and , to a larger extent , visualization of multiple catheters allowed a minimal use of fluoroscopy in transcatheter AF ablation
Conclusion In patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation  , cryoballoon and radiofrequency ablation produce similar results in terms of freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation or atrial tachyarrhythmias but with a different safety profile , being cryoballoon ablation less associated with cardiac complications but more likely to cause phrenic nerve palsy
Aims To perform an up date d meta- analysis to assess efficacy , safety and technical performance of pulmonary vein isolation using cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation .