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Date of Graduation
12-13-2025
Semester of Graduation
Fall
Course Instructor
Lauran Tice
Abstract
Objective: Assess the effectiveness of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by cryoballoon ablation (CBA) compared to the current gold standard of care, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), for the treatment of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation in a symptomatic population. Design: Literature review. Methods: Searches were done in PubMed and Cochrane Library, utilizing the terms atrial fibrillation, cryoballoon ablation, and radiofrequency. In PubMed, the following limits and terms were used: published in the last 10 years, humans, randomized controlled trial, and English. Results: Search results revealed four studies meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Conclusion: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is as efficacious in treating atrial fibrillation by pulmonary vein isolation as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). CBA has shorter procedures and ablation times. Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence may occur less frequently within the initial 3-month recovery period and at 12-month follow-up with CBA.
Recommended Citation
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