[Radiofrequency current or cryoballoon for ablation of atrial fibrillation? : Hot or cold?]

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia. The aim of therapy in symptomatic patients is the establishment of a stable sinus rhythm (SR). Catheter ablation with isolation of the pulmonary veins is the essential component of all forms of ablation therapy and provides the most effective treatment option. The most frequently used technologies for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are radiofrequency current (RFC)-based and cryoballoon (CB)-guided ablation. Irrespective of the simplification of PVI, CB ablation is characterized by a short learning curve and short procedural times and demonstrated non-inferiority with respect to safety and efficacy when directly compared to RFC ablation for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal AF; however, the clinical outcome in patients with persistent AF is often insufficient when performing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone for stabilization of SR. Differentiated RFC ablation is the treatment of choice when performing additional ablation strategies beyond PVI in order to improve clinical results with freedom from arrhythmia recurrence.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Cryoballoon; Pulmonary vein isolation; Radiofrequency ablation.