Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation vs. Radiofrequency Pulmonary Vein Isolation With Additional Right Atrial Linear Ablation for Valvular Atrial Fibrillation: Prospective Randomized Trial (CRAVA Trial)

Cryoballoon ablation is proven to be effective in pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. We previously reported that the rhythm outcome of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablations are equivalent in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and in those with surgically and hemodynamically corrected valvular atrial fibrillation. In contrast, the Cryoballoon ablation can reduce the procedure times, it cannot conduct empirical linear ablation or extra-pulmonary vein foci ablation. The aim of this study is to compare Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation and RF ablation including linear ablation or extra-pulmonary vein foci ablations in patients with hemodynamically corrected valvular atrial fibrillation.