SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently, Medtronic Arctic Front Cryoballoon is the most frequently used single shot technology and hence is the benchmark for upcoming technologies. A novel method, pulse-field ablation (PFA) using the FARAPULSE catheter, has recently been introduced (FARAPULSE PFA, Boston Scientific). However, whether FARAPULSE PFA provides effectiveness similar to the standard-of-practice Medtronic Arctic Front Cryoballoon is yet to be investigated. Given that FARAPULSE PFA has shown in studies not to cause any of the severe complications reported in association with traditional PVI while being highly effective, it might be even safer and more effective for use in AF ablation procedures. The aim of this trial is to compare the efficacy and safety of PVI using FARAPULSE PFA (Boston Scientific) and the Arctic Front Cryoballoon (Medtronic) in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF undergoing their first PVI. This is an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized controlled, open-label trial with blinded endpoint adjudication. Given that the Medtronic Arctic Front Cryoballoon is the standard-of-practice for PVI and the FARAPULSE PFA is the novel technology, this trial has a non-inferiority design. The null hypothesis with regards to the primary efficacy endpoint is that the FARAPULSE PFA (Boston Scientific) shows lower efficacy compared to the Arctic Front Cryoballoon (Medtronic) and that therefore more episodes of first recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia between days 91 and 365 will be observed in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF undergoing their first PVI. Hence, the alternative hypothesis postulates that the FARAPULSE PFA is non-inferior to the Arctic Front Cryoballoon. Rejection of the null hypothesis is needed to conclude non-inferiority.