Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Pulsed Field Versus Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation: Efficacy, Safety, and Long-Term Follow-Up in a 400-Patient Cohort
Authors' conclusion
PFA compared with CB PVI shows a similar procedural efficacy but is associated with shorter procedure time and no phrenic nerve palsies. Importantly, 12-month clinical success rates are favorable but not different between both groups.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)
- Participants
- 400 patients
- Exposure
- Pulsed field ablation (PFA) vs cryoballoon PVI
- PFAn = 200
- Cryoballoon (CB)n = 200reference
- Outcome
- Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia after a 3-month blanking period
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients
- Consecutive patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
1-year success
Paroxysmal AF
P = 0.724
Persistent AF
P = 0.629
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Acute PVI · 4 touch-up ablations
P = 0.123
Procedure time
P < 0.001
Fluoroscopy time
- Similar in both groups
Safety
Overall procedural complications · driven by higher rate of phrenic nerve palsies with CB
P = 0.1
Original publication
Pulsed Field Versus Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation: Efficacy, Safety, and Long-Term Follow-Up in a 400-Patient Cohort. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. Published 31 May 2023. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it