ABSTRACT
Objective: The compare the safety and efficacy between cryoablation (CRYO) and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for treating the patients with atrio-ventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) by meta-analysis. Methods: We systemically searched the Medline, Cochrane library and Embase database to fulifll our pre-deifned criteria until the publication of May 2014. Results: There were 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 14 retrospective trials enrolled in our study with 2900 patients. The patients were allocated into 2 groups:CRYO group, n=1384 and RFCA group, n=1516. The overall pool-analysis demonstrated that compared with RFCA group, CRYO group had the lower risk of permanent atrio-ventricular nodal block (OR:0.27, 95%CI 0.11 to 0.62, P Conclusion: Although CRYO could decrease the risk of permanent atrio-ventricular nodal block, while its effectiveness was lower than RFCA for AVNRT treatment in relevant patients.