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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Cost minimization analysis of catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by catheter technology
Jose Osorio1, Ryan J Imhoff2, Peter J Mallow2,3
1Cardiac Electrophysiology, Grandview Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Insights
The Thermocool® Smarttouch® Catheter (ST) offers significant 1-year cost savings for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation compared to other technologies. This catheter-based treatment is a cost-effective option for managing PAF.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Economics
Background:
- Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is a common arrhythmia requiring effective treatment.
- Catheter ablation is a primary therapeutic option for PAF, with various technologies available.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the 1-year costs of three catheter ablation technologies for PAF treatment.
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Thermocool® Smarttouch® Catheter (ST), Thermocool SF Catheter (SF), and Arctic Front Advance Cryoballoon (CB).
Main Methods:
- A decision tree model was utilized to estimate 1-year hospital costs.
- Costs included index and potential repeat PAF ablation procedures.
- Model parameters were derived from two recent published studies.
Main Results:
- The ST catheter demonstrated average per-patient savings of $1488 versus SF and $4494 versus CB.
- Cost savings were more pronounced in inpatient settings.
- Overall 1-year hospital visit costs were lower with ST compared to SF and CB.
Conclusions:
- The Thermocool® Smarttouch® Catheter (ST) is associated with lower 1-year expected hospital costs for PAF ablation.
- ST presents a more cost-effective option compared to SF and CB for PAF treatment.
Aim:
Compare the 1-year costs of three catheter ablation technologies for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).
Materials & Methods:
A decision tree model was developed to estimate 1-year hospital costs associated with an index and potential repeat PAF ablation procedure using the Thermocool® Smarttouch® Catheter (ST), Thermocool SF Catheter (SF) or Arctic Front Advance Cryoballoon (CB). Model parameters were estimated using the results of two recently published studies.
Results:
The ST resulted in average per-patient savings for combined inpatient and outpatient populations of US$1488 and US$4494 compared with SF and CB, respectively. These cost savings were greater in the inpatient setting.
Conclusion:
The 1-year expected hospital visit costs for PAF ablation were lower with ST than with SF or CB.
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