Clinical outcome of the 2nd generation cryoballoon for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation - A sub-study of the randomized trial evaluating single versus dual cryoballoon applications.

•Symptoms and QoL improved in persistent AF and did not differ from paroxysmal AF patients after cryoballoon ablation•Freedom from AF 12 months after a single ablation was clinically significant at 64.9%, but lower than in paroxysmal AF•Cryoballoon ablation seems to be a feasible and effective technique in persistent AF