title: The long-term efficacy of cryoballoon vs irrigated radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the long-term efficacy of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) with irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Medline, Cochrane Library and Embase Database were searched for clinical studies published up to October 2014. Studies that fulfilled our predefined inclusion criteria were included. The primary clinical outcome was the proportion of patients free from AF (follow-up≥3months), and the secondary clinical outcomes included acute pulmonary vein (PV) isolated rate, fluoroscopy time, procedure time and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a literature search in the major databases, three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and eight retrospective trials with a total of 1216 patients were identified. Pool-analysis demonstrated that, as compared RFCA, CBA was associated with a similar proportion of patients free from AF at a mean 16.5months follow-up (66.9% vs 65.1%; relative risk [RR]: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.07, P=0.87). Acute PV isolation rate (RR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.82 to 1.03) and fluoroscopy time (weighted mean difference WMD: -8.60; 95% CI: -18.29 to 3.69) were not statistically significant difference. The procedure time was shorter in CBA group ([WMD]: -31.94; 95% CI: -60.43 to -3.45). Transient phrenic nerve palsy was uniquely observed in the CBA group (5.4%, P<0.00001) and resolved in all during the follow-up period, total complication was similar in both groups (RR: 1.30; 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBA was as effective as RFCA for the treatment of atrial fibrillation during long-term follow-up with comparable procedural features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Chongqing Banan, Chongqing 401320, China.
authors.forename: Xiaocheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400014, China.
authors.forename: Qiongwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Chongqing Banan, Chongqing 401320, China.
authors.forename: Changyue
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Chongqing Banan, Chongqing 401320, China.
authors.forename: Lin Qiong
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Chongqing Banan, Chongqing 401320, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital/The Second Clinical Institute, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, China.
authors.forename: Zengzhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, People's Hospital of Chongqing Banan, Chongqing 401320, China. Electronic address: chengxiao860203@126.com.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Cryoballoon; Meta analysis; Pulmonary vein isolation; Radiofrequency ablation