Comparison of touch-up ablation rate and pulmonary vein isolation durability between hot balloon and cryoballoon

This study aimed to compare touch-up ablation (TUA) rates and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) durability of hot balloon ablation (HBA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients.

In total, 137 PAF patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, 59 underwent two HBA procedures at 6-month intervals and 78 patients underwent two CBA sessions, both regardless of atrial fibrillation recurrence. Propensity score matching was performed to estimate similar patient characteristics between the HBA and CBA groups.

Each group comprised of 46 matched patients for comparison. The TUA rate at the first session was higher for HBA (49 of 184 PVs) than for CBA (20 PVs) (P = .01), with the highest incidence at the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV). The rates of PVI durability at the second session performed 7 months later were similar between HBA (168 of 184 PVs) and CBA (162 PVs) groups. The PVI durability rate at the TUA sites of the first session was higher for HBA than for CBA (41 of 49 PVs vs 10 PVs, respectively; P = .01). Fifty percent of the patients underwent HBA at 73°C for the LSPV. HBA performed at 73°C yielded a lower TUA rate than that at 70°C (16 of 23 PVs vs 7 of 23 PVs; P = .008).

While PVI durability was similar between HBA and CBA, the TUA rate was higher for HBA than for CBA, especially on the LSPV. For LSPV, HBA at a balloon temperature of 73°C may reduce the TUA rate.