Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Dec 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyRationale and Design of FIRE AND ICE: A multicenter randomized trial comparing efficacy and safety of pulmonary vein isolation using a cryoballoon versus radiofrequency ablation with 3D-reconstruction.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia imposing substantial morbidity and mortality. Catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency current (RFC) has become a standard treatment for drug-resistant and symptomatic paroxysmal AF (PAF). In recent years, the cryoballoon-based technique is increasingly used as a promising alternative with a short learning curve. ⋯ The FIRE AND ICE trial compares 2 different technologies to perform catheter ablation of PAF with respect to efficacy and safety. It aims at providing objective data to guide selection and usage of ablation catheters in the treatment of AF.