Pulsed Field or Cryoballoon Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Pulmonary-vein isolation is an effective treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a nonthermal ablation method with few adverse effects beyond the myocardium. Data are lacking on outcomes after PFA as compared with cryoballoon ablation as assessed with continuous rhythm monitoring.

In this randomized noninferiority trial in Switzerland, we randomly assigned patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in a 1:1 ratio to undergo PFA or cryoablation. All the patients received an implantable cardiac monitor to detect atrial tachyarrhythmias. The primary end point was the first recurrence of an atrial tachyarrhythmia between day 91 and day 365 after ablation. We assessed noninferiority using a margin of 20 percentage points for the difference in the cumulative incidence of recurrence. The safety end point was a composite of procedure-related complications.