The established and the challenger: A direct comparison of current cryoballoon technologies for pulmonary vein isolation

Introduction Cryoballoon (CB) ablation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an effective treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, a novel cryoablation system was introduced. The aim of the study was to compare the safety, efficacy and biophysical characteristics of a novel cryoablation system (POLARx™; Boston Scientific) to a commonly used and clinically well characterized system (Arctic Front Advance Pro™, AFA; Medtronic). Methods and Results Fifty consecutive patients with symptomatic AF, who underwent CB‐based ablation with the POLARx were compared to 50 consecutive patients treated with the AFA. Acute PVI was achieved in 99.8% (POLARx 99.5%, AFA 100%, p = 1.00). Time to isolation (TTI) was comparable in both groups (POLARx 35 [27, 48] s, AFA 30 [21, 43] s, p = 0.165). The POLARx showed a lower balloon temperature at TTI (POLARx −44 [−50, −36] °C, AFA −31 [−38, −21] °C, p