Can a new freezing balloon tame a fluttering heart as well as the old one?
NCT ID NCT04704986
First seen Jul 24, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026
Summary
This trial tests whether a newer cryoballoon device, PolarX, works as well as the standard Arctic Front device for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (a type of irregular heartbeat). About 200 people having their first pulmonary vein isolation procedure will be randomly assigned to one of the two devices. The study will monitor heart rhythm for a year to see how well each device prevents the return of atrial fibrillation.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a cryoballoon catheter device used to freeze and isolate pulmonary veins
- What this could lead to
- If the PolarX device proves as effective as the current standard, it could offer doctors another safe option for treating atrial fibrillation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a non-inferiority trial, so the new device may turn out to be less effective. Complications like heart lining inflammation or nerve injury are possible with any cryoballoon procedure.
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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
-
Inselspital, Bern University Hospital
Bern, 3010, Switzerland
-
University Hospital Basel
Basel, 4031, Switzerland
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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