Freezing heart rhythms: could a cold balloon tame AFib in failing hearts?
NCT ID NCT04461691
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested a procedure called cryoballoon ablation in 1,420 people with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) and severe heart failure. The goal was to see if freezing the veins that trigger the irregular rhythm could reduce recurrence of the heart rhythm problem and improve safety. The approach is already used in people with normal heart function, and this study aimed to see if it works as well in those with heart failure.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cryoballoon ablation (a procedure that uses freezing to isolate pulmonary veins)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a safe and effective treatment option for atrial fibrillation in patients with severe heart failure, potentially reducing symptoms and hospitalizations.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study, but results are not yet widely known. The procedure carries risks like stroke, bleeding, or nerve injury, and may not work for everyone.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
-
St. Josefs-Hospital Wiesbaden GmbH
Wiesbaden, 65189, Germany
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