Freezing vs burning: which heart procedure works best for AFib?
NCT ID NCT01490814
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study compared two ways to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AFib) — a heart rhythm problem. One method uses a freezing balloon (cryoballoon), the other uses heat (radiofrequency). About 769 patients took part. The goal was to see if the freezing method works as well and is as safe as the heat method. Both aim to stop faulty electrical signals in the heart.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- catheter ablation procedure (cryoballoon or radiofrequency)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could confirm that cryoballoon ablation is as safe and effective as standard radiofrequency ablation for treating atrial fibrillation, offering patients another option.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed non-inferiority trial, so results are already known. The main risks are typical for any heart ablation: bleeding, stroke, or heart rhythm issues. The study does not test a cure, only symptom control.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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
Locations
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Arrhythmia Unit Hospital Clinico San Carlos
Madrid, 28040, Spain
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Asklepios Klinik St. Georg
Hamburg, 20099, Germany
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CHU Lyon, Départment de Rythmologie, Hospital Cardiologique Pradel
Lyon, 69677, France
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Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Centre Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Centro Cardiologico Monzino University of Milan
Milan, 20138, Italy
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Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien - CCB
Frankfurt, 60431, Germany
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Centre Chirurgical Ambroise Paré
Neuilly-sur-Seine, 92200, France
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Herz-Zentrum Bad Krozingen
Bad Krozingen, 79189, Germany
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Herz-Zentrum-Bodensee Konstanz
Konstanz, 78464, Germany
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Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona
Barcelona, 08036, Spain
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Hospital Clinico Universtitario, Cardiology Department Arrhythmia Unit
Valencia, 46014, Spain
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Hospital Henri Mondor CHU, Service de Cardiologie
Créteil, 94010, France
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Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Department of Cardiology, Campus Teatinos sn
Málaga, 29010, Spain
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Isala Klinieken loc. Weezenlanden Diagram Clinical Resarch
Zwolle, 8011, Netherlands
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Klinik für Kardiologie II mit interventioneller Elektrophysiologie
Bad Neustadt/Saale, 97616, Germany
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La Clinique Pasteur, 45 Avenue de Lombez
Toulouse, 31076, France
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Na Homolce Hospital, Cardiology
Prague, 515030, Czechia
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Semmelweis University of Medicine, Kardiovaskuläres Zentrum
Budapest, 1122, Hungary
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Universitätsklinikum Greifswald Elektrophysiologie
Greifswald, 17475, Germany
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Universitätsspital Basel, Elektrophysiologie/ Kardiologie
Basel, 4031, Switzerland