Transvenous Cryoablation Versus Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation For The Treatment Of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Objective: This is a study comparing the efficacy and safety between cryoablation(Cryo)and radiofrequency(RF)ablation in patients with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia(AVNRT).Methods: There were sixty-seven patients with AVNRT who underwent electrophysiological study in our arrhythmias service center. 25 patients were assigned into the cryoablation group, and 42 patients were assigned into radiofrequency ablation group according to patient's choice. The clinical characteristic, success rate, procedural time, ablative time were compared.Results: The procedural time in Cryo group was significant longer than that in RF group (119.14±40.16min vs 85.86±28.24min, P=0.001). The acute success was achieved in 24/25(96.0%)patients who ablated with Cryo, 42/42(100.0%)patients with radiofrequency. Transient AV-block was encountered in 4 (16%) patients in the Cryo group and in 5 (11.9%) patients in the RF group (P=0.634). There was no complete atrial-ventricular(AV)conduction block at the end of procedures. There was no recurrence of AVNRT either in Cryo group or in RF group during 6.2±1.2 months of follow-up period.Conclusion: Cryoablation is as effective and safe as RF ablation for AVNRT. Cryoablation is one of alternative methods for AVNRT.