Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyMeta-analysis

Multielectrode catheter-based pulsed electric field vs. cryoballoon for atrial fibrillation ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

EuropacePublished

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis

Authors' conclusion

Pulsed field ablation contributed to higher acute procedural success and safety compared with CRYO. No statistically significant differences in AT recurrence at 1-year follow-up were observed.

Study context

Population
Patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation20 pulsed field ablation (PFA) and 70 CRYO studies
Comparison
PFA vs second-/third-/fourth-generation cryoballoon ablation
Outcome
Acute procedural success on a vein and patient basis

Pooled result

As reported in the abstract

Acute success, vein basis

Acute success, per patient

  • PFA vs CRYO: P < 0.001 — vein basis
  • PFA vs CRYO: P < 0.001 — per patient

Further pooled results

Procedural time · shorter with PFA

P < 0.001

Fluoroscopy time · shorter with PFA

P < 0.001

Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias · 1 year

log-rank P = 0.61

Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias · 1 year

No differences in freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) at 1 year

Safety

Overall periprocedural complications · lower with PFA

P < 0.001

Major periprocedural complications

P = 0.46

Major periprocedural complications

No differences in major periprocedural complications

Original publication

Multielectrode catheter-based pulsed electric field vs. cryoballoon for atrial fibrillation ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Europace. Published 23 November 2024. doi:10.1093/europace/euae293

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it