Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (CAAF) using the cryoballoon has emerged as an alternate strategy to point-by-point radiofrequency. However, there is little comparative data on long-term durability of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation comparing these two modalities.

In this multicenter, retrospective analysis, the incidences/patterns of late PV reconnection following an index CAAF using the second-generation cryoballoon versus open-irrigated, non-force-sensing radiofrequency were examined.

Of the 2002 patients who underwent a first-time CAAF, 186/1126 patients (16.5 %) ablated using cryoballoon and 174/876 patients (19.9 %) with non-contact force-guided radiofrequency required a repeat procedure at 11 ± 5 months. During follow-up, the incidence of atrial flutters/tachycardias was lower (19.9 vs. 32.8 %; p = 0.005) and fewer patients exhibited PV reconnection (47.3 vs. 60.9 %; p = 0.007) with cryoballoon versus radiofrequency. Additionally, fewer PVs had reconnected with cryoballoon versus radiofrequency (18.8 vs. 34.6 %; p < 0.001). With cryoballoon, the right inferior (p < 0.001) and left common (p = 0.039) PVs were more likely to exhibit late reconnection, versus the left superior PV with radiofrequency (p = 0.012). However, when comparing the two strategies, the left common PV was more likely to exhibit reconnection with cryoballoon, whereas all other PVs with the exception of the right inferior PV demonstrated a lower reconnection rate with cryoballoon versus radiofrequency. Lastly, in a logistic regression multivariate analysis, cryoballoon ablation and PV ablation time emerged as significant predictors of durable PV isolation at repeat procedure.

In this large multicenter, retrospective analysis, CAAF using the second-generation cryoballoon was associated with improved durability of PV isolation compared to open-irrigated, non-force-sensing radiofrequency.