OBJECTIVES: Electrical Pulmonary Vein (PV) Isolation (PVI) is regarded as effective treatment of Symptomatic Drug-Refractory Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF). Traditionally, appropriate circumferential lesions were created point-by-point, using single tip catheters guided by navigation systems, and generally employing radiofrequency (RF) source. “Anatomically-Designed” catheters were introduced recently and are pre-shaped to create the appropriate lesions with a single application on each PV. We hypothesised that the shape of these catheters is associated with reduced procedure times and Operating Room (OR) productivity gains. In this study, catheters employing cryo (Arctic Front, Medtronic) and duty cycled bipolar radiofrequency (PVAC, Medtronic) energy sources were examined. METHODS: Using a chart review approach, 158 procedures were included (85 with “anatomically-designed” catheters, 73 “point-by point”) across 7 diversified French centres. Selection criteria were used to ensure comparability of procedures. In parallel an economic analysis was performed to estimate the budgetary impact in terms of DRG case-mix for hospitals, resulting from potential increased OR activity. RESULTS: Reduced procedure time was observed in six out of seven participating centres. The difference in median times was 35 minutes (p=0.0192). There was significant variability of procedures times depending on hospital status (public or private), the experience of electrophysiologists involved and the annual activity. Based on the DRG casemix produced in the rythmology OR and the current tariffs, the mean revenue for the centre was estimated between 1100€ (private) and ,400 € (public) per hour of total OR time. CONCLUSIONS: Use of “Anatomically-Designed” PVI Catheters has the potential to substantially reduce procedure time and increase procedure capacity of rythmology labs. Shorter procedure times allow better management of OR and treatment of more patients with potential productivity gains to hospitals that may offset the extra cost of the new techniques.