title: Cryoballoon ablation versus radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.
abstract: Catheter ablation (CA) provides the most effective treatment option for patients suffering from symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). The procedural cornerstone of all ablation strategies and for all entities of AF is the electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PV). CA with the use of radiofrequency (RF) in conjunction with a 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping system is the most established ablation approach, but it demands a long learning curve and recurrences of AF are commonly the result of recovered PV conduction. As a consequence, novel ablation systems such as the Cryoballoon (CB) have been evolved aiming at facilitation and increased efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). CB ablation is characterized by a short learning curve as well as short procedure times and demonstrated non-inferiority with regard to safety and efficacy when being directly compared to RF ablation for treatment of paroxysmal AF. However, RF ablation is first choice for treatment of persistent AF, in particular when expanded ablation strategies beyond PVI are intended in order to improve clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany. Electronic address: b.reissmann@asklepios.com.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reissmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Metzner
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kuck
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D022062:Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D059032:Learning Curve; D061646:Operative Time; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cryoballoon ablation; Pulmonary vein isolation; Radiofrequency ablation