Reablation in Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence and Pulmonary Vein Reconnection: Cryoballoon versus Radiofrequency as Index Ablation Procedures

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is a well-established rhythm control therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, there is no consensus on which ablation technique to use for the first procedure, cryoballoon (CB) or radiofrequency (RF). A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1055 patients who underwent a first ablation, to assess both techniques based on the need for reablation. Patients with CB (n = 557) and RF (n = 498) ablations were clinically characterized and the need for reablation during a 30-month follow-up was used as the primary endpoint. Independent variables were analyzed to identify potential predictors. The need for reablation was significantly lower in the CB group than in the RF group (hazard ratio = 0.45 and 95% confident interval = 0.32-0.61; p < 0.001); in both paroxysmal and persistent AF, using a full-adjusted regression Cox model by age, sex, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, severe obstructive sleep apnea, dilated left atrium, persistent AF and early recurrence. RF ablation, dilated left atrium, persistent AF and early recurrence were identified as independent predictors of reablation. In addition, the CB-redo subgroup had a lower PV reconnection than the RF-redo subgroup. In conclusion, CB ablation suggests a reduction in the need for reablation and lower PV reconnection during the follow-up than RF ablation.