Difference in efficacy of radiofrequency and cryoballoon ablation methods on atrial fibrillation patients with enlarged left atrium
Objective To compare the different therapeutic efficacies between radiofrequency and cryoballoon ablation in atrial fibrillation(AF)patients with enlarged left atrium.Methods A total of 106 AF patients with enlarged left atrium(LAVI)>34ml/m2 who visited our center between December 2016 and May 2022 for catheter ablation were enrolled.They were divided into radiofrequency group(R-group)and cryoballoon group(C-group)according to the procedure.The recurrence of AF was compared between the two groups.Results The median follow-up time was 12 months and no death occurred.The rate of loss of follow-up was 3.8%.The overall recurrence rate of AF after ablation was 36.8%.There was no significant difference in clinical baseline between the two groups(P>0.05).The radiofrequency group had longer operation time(P<0.001),shorter X-ray time and less exposure(P<0.05);There was no significant difference in clinical baseline and postoperative complications between the two groups(P>0.05).The results of survival analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the survival rate of patients without atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion For AF patients with enlarged left atrium,the clinical effects of the two methods were similar.Cryoballoon takes a shorter time,while radiofrequency has a lower X-ray time and exposure dose for physicians and patients.Therefore,appropriate ablation methods should be selected according to the actual situation.
Left atrial volume indexRadiofrequency ablationCryoballoon ablationEnlarged left atriumAtrial fibrillation recurrence