Comparison between First- and Second-Generation Cryoballoon for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

• Published in: Cardiology Research and Practice
• Main Authors: Sergio Conti, Massimo Moltrasio, Gaetano Fassini, Fabrizio Tundo, Stefania Riva, Antonio Dello Russo, Michela Casella, Benedetta Majocchi, Vittoria Marino, Pasquale De Iuliis, Valentina Catto, Salvatore Pala, Claudio Tondo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2016
• Subjects: Diseases of the circulatory (Cardiovascular) system; RC666-701; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5106127; https://doaj.org/article/3d5401c9d8804361a8db306346155f3e

Introduction. Cryoballoon (CB) ablation has emerged as a novel treatment for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The second-generation Arctic Front Advance (ADV) was redesigned with technical modifications aiming at procedural and outcome improvements. We aimed to compare the efficacy of the two different technologies over a long-term follow-up. Methods. A total of 120 patients with PAF were enrolled. Sixty patients underwent PVI using the first-generation CB and 60 patients with the ADV catheter. All patients were evaluated over a follow-up period of 2 years. Results. There were no significant differences between the two groups of patients. Procedures performed with the first-generation CB showed longer fluoroscopy time (36.3±16.8 versus 14.2±13.5 min, resp.; p=0.00016) and longer procedure times as well (153.1±32 versus 102±24.8 min, resp.; p=0.019). The overall long-term success was significantly different between the two groups (68.3 versus 86.7%, resp.; p=0.017). No differences were found in the lesion areas of left and right PV between the two groups (resp., p=0.61 and 0.57). There were no significant differences in procedural-related complications. Conclusion. The ADV catheter compared to the first-generation balloon allows obtaining a significantly higher success rate after a single PVI procedure during the long-term follow-up. Fluoroscopy and procedural times were significantly shortened using the ADV catheter.