Abstract 249: The Costs and Acute Outcomes Following Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation in Elderly Patients a Comparison Between Cryoballoon and Radiofrequency Ablation
Backgroup: Limited comparative data exist regarding catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) using second-generation cryoballoon (CB-2) ablation versus radiofrequency (RF) ablation in elderly patients (>75 years ). This study aims to compare the costs and periprocedural outcomes in elderly patients using these two strategies. Methods: Elderly patients (>75years) with symptomatic drug-refractory AF were included in the study. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was performed in all patients by CB or RF. The costs and periprocedural outcomes of the two strategies are compared using SPSS 22. Results: 324 elderly patients with symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal/short-lasting persistent AF received PVI using RF (n=176) and CB-2 (n=148) from September 2016 to April 2019. The CB-2 was associated with shorter procedure duration and left atrial dwell time (128.9±18.3 vs. 152.8±18.9 minutes, P<0.001; 89.4±18.4 vs. 101.9± 22.2minutes, P <0.001), but greater fluoroscopy utilization (24.3±10.9 vs. 19.2±7.5 minutes, P <0.001). Periprocedural complications occurred in 3.4% (CB-2) and 9.1% (RF) of patients (P=0.037). There was no significant difference between 2 groups for AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence until discharge (16.2 vs. 18.7%, P = 0.552). The length of stay after ablation was shorter, but the costs were greater in the CB-2 group ( P <0.001). Conclusions: Both CB-2 and RF ablation appear to be safe and effective for AF in elderly patients (>75 years). In addition, CB-2 is associated with shorter procedure time, left atrial dwell time, and length of stay after ablation, as well as lower complication rates, but its costs and fluoroscopy time are greater than those of the RF group.