Cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation achieved successful electrical isolation with early pulmonary vein reconnection observed in only 2.8% of veins at 30 minutes.
Observational (n=26)
Does cryoballoon ablation achieve durable early electrical isolation of pulmonary veins in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
Cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is highly effective at achieving acute electrical isolation with a very low rate (2.8%) of early pulmonary vein reconnection.
AIMS: To assess the incidence of early pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection, characterize the anatomic features of the reconducting veins, and analyse the time course of their recovery in a series of consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing ablation with the Arctic Front Cryoballoon. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively enrolled 26 patients (20 males; age 55.4 +/- 4.1) for circumferential PV cryoballoon isolation for highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF. Following isolation of all veins, we analysed PV potentials in each vein after 30 and 60 min with a circular mapping catheter. After successful electrical isolation of all 104 PV's, recurrence was observed only in three veins (2.8%) after 30 min. Two further cryoballoon applications in each of these veins lead to their isolation. These veins were still electrically disconnected at 60 min. No PV reconnection was observed in any of the other 101 veins (97.1%) at 30 and 60 min. CONCLUSION: Cryoballoon ablation of the PV's ostia is a very effective technique to achieve electrical isolation, with a very low rate of early reconnection.
Chierchia et al. (2008) conducted an observational in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n=26). Arctic Front Cryoballoon ablation was evaluated on Early pulmonary vein reconnection at 30 and 60 minutes. Cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation achieved successful electrical isolation with early pulmonary vein reconnection observed in only 2.8% of veins at 30 minutes.