Purpose of Technology: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a supraventricular, accelerated heart rhythm characterized by uncoordinated atrial activation that leads to inefficient, irregular atrial contraction. Minimally invasive catheter ablation procedures, such as cryoablation (CA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), aim to relieve the symptoms of AF and improve quality of life by creating strategic lesions near the left atrium-pulmonary venous junctions or at other ectopic foci using thermal energy. This localized tissue damage may block the abnormal electrical signals that trigger AF and help regulate the heartbeat.
Relevant Questions:
- What is the comparative effectiveness of CA and RFA in patients with AF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI)?
- What is the comparative safety of CA and RFA in patients with AF undergoing PVI?
- Have definitive patient selection criteria been established for use of CA and RFA?
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