Cryoballoon or Radiofrequency Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Catheter ablation is important for treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Limited animal and human studies suggest a correlation between electrode-tissue contact and radiofrequency lesion generation.

Ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established treatment option for symptomatic patients. It is not known whether complete pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is superior to incomplete PVI with regard to the patients' clinical outcome.

Pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection remains the most important cause of AF recurrence after AF ablation. The second-generation cryoballoon catheter's ability to achieve durable PV isolation was assessed in a prospective nonrandomized clinical trial.