ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy between SmartTouch pressure catheter and ordinary Thermocool NaviStar catheter for radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. MethodsNinety-eight patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were enrolled. Based on the the principle of patients′ voluntariness, the patients were divided into control group (using NaviStar catheter) and experimental group (using SmartTouch pressure catheter), with 49 cases in each group. Both groups received bilateral pulmonary vein isolation under the Carto3 three-dimensional mapping system. The general data and the durations of operation, X-ray exposure,pulmonary vein isolation, left atrium modeling and radiofrequency ablation were collected and were compared between the two groups. The postoperative complications were observed. The 3-month, 6-month and 1-year recurrence rates were followed up. ResultsThere were no significant differences in the durations of operation, pulmonary vein isolation, left atrium modeling and radiofrequency ablation between the two groups（P＞0.05）. The duration of X-ray exposure was shorter in the experimental group compared to the control group (P＜0.05). Severe catheter-related complications (such as cardiac tamponade) did not occurred in both groups after operation. At 3 months after operation, there was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the two groups（P＞0.05）. At 6 months and 1year after operation, the recurrence rates of the experimental group were lower than those of the control group（all P＜0.05）. ConclusionSmartTouch pressure-sensitive catheter can reduce the duration of surgical X-ray and the recurrence rate, and is worthy of promotion and application.

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