No death or myocardial infa rct ion was reported .
CONCLUSION ' PVI-plus ' involving 2G-CB seems to be safe and effective for treating PerAF
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that second-generation cryoballoon ablation ( 2G-CB ) is effective in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation ( PerAF ) .
The cornerstone of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation is pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) .
The purpose of this study was to summarize the available data on the safety and mid-term ( ≥ 12 months ) effectiveness of a ' PVI-only ' strategy vs. a ' PVI-plus ' strategy using 2G-CB in patients with PerAF .
Cryoballoon versus RF ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: results from the German Ablation Registry.
BACKGROUND Catheter ablation is used extensively with curative intention in atrial fibrillation .  Radiofrequency ablation has long been a st and ard of care , while cryoballoon technology has emerged as a feasible approach with promising results . Prospect i ve multicenter registry data referring to both ablation technologies in AF ablation therapy are lacking . METHODS Between January 2007 and August 2011 , a total of 3,775 consecutive patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF who underwent PV ablation in their respective centers were enrolled . The cohort was divided into 2 groups according to the ablation energy source used : cryoballoon ablation ( group 1 , n = 905 [ 24.0 % ] , median age 63 years , 64.3 % men ) and RF ablation ( group 2 , n = 2870 [ 76.0 % ] , median age 63 years , 62.7 % men ) . Comorbidities and baseline clinical characteristics were similar in both groups . RESULTS Acute success rate was similar in both groups ( 97.5 % in cryo vs 97.6 % in RF ; P = 0.81 ) . Procedure times were similar , ablation and fluoroscopy times were higher in cryoballoon when compared to RF ablation .  Overall complication rate was similar in cryo- ( 4.6 % ) and RF-ablation ( 4.6 % ; P = 1.0 ) . Phrenic nerve palsy was more often in cryo versus RF ablation ( 2.1 % in cryo vs 0.0 % in RF ; P < 0.001 ) . Other complications were more common in RF compared to cryoablation ( 4.6 % in RF vs 2.7 % in cryo ; P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION RF ablation is the most widespread ablation method in Germany , but use of cryoballoon increased significantly . Procedure times were similar , but ablation and fluoroscopy times were longer in cryoballoon ablation . No significant differences were found in terms of acute success and overall complication rate
No death or myocardial infa rct ion was reported .
CONCLUSION ' PVI-plus ' involving 2G-CB seems to be safe and effective for treating PerAF
BACKGROUND Growing evidence suggests that second-generation cryoballoon ablation ( 2G-CB ) is effective in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation ( PerAF ) .
The cornerstone of atrial fibrillation ( AF ) ablation is pulmonary vein isolation ( PVI ) .
The purpose of this study was to summarize the available data on the safety and mid-term ( ≥ 12 months ) effectiveness of a ' PVI-only ' strategy vs. a ' PVI-plus ' strategy using 2G-CB in patients with PerAF .