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

• Published in: Cardiology Research and Practice
• Main Authors: Conti S., Moltrasio M., Fassini G., Tundo F., Riva S., Dello Russo A., Casella M., Majocchi B., Marino V., De Iuliis P., Catto V., Pala S., Tondo C.
• Other Authors: Conti, S., Moltrasio, M., Fassini, G., Tundo, F., Riva, S., Dello Russo, A., Casella, M., Majocchi, B., Marino, V., De Iuliis, P., Catto, V., Pala, S., Tondo, C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Arctic
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11566/275704; https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/5106127; http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crp/

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.