A prospective, multicenter trial of irrigated radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation to treat nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation.
J Thorac Cardiovasc SurgMay 4, 2026 (epub)
Ralph J Damiano, Jonathan M Philpott, Michael G Moront et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This prospective, multicenter clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of irrigated radiofrequency (iRF) ablation and cryoablation for nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (NPAF) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Among 94 patients, freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias at 12 months was 76.2%, with a low major adverse event rate of 7.5%.
Key findings
- Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias at 12 months was 76.2% (64 of 84).
- Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias and antiarrhythmic drugs at 12 months was 80%.
- The major adverse event rate was 7.5% (7 of 93 patients).
- Quality of life scores improved significantly from baseline (P < .001).
Why it matters
The study demonstrates that concomitant surgical ablation for NPAF can achieve high rates of rhythm restoration with a low complication rate, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life.