Second-generation cryoballoon ablation for drug-resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation achieved freedom from atrial fibrillation at 12 months in 83% of patients.
Observational (n=42)
Does second-generation cryoballoon ablation prevent recurrence of atrial fibrillation in patients with drug-resistant paroxysmal AF?
Second-generation cryoballoon ablation is highly effective for drug-resistant paroxysmal AF, achieving 83% freedom from AF at 1 year, though transient phrenic nerve palsy occurred in 19% of patients.
BACKGROUND: The novel cryoballoon Advance (CB-A) has proven to achieve significantly lower temperatures and faster pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) times in comparison with the first-generation device. Although acutely very effective, to the best of our knowledge, data on mid-term clinical follow-up is lacking. AIMS: The aim of the study was to analyse the freedom from recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) on a 1-year follow-up period, in a series of consecutive patients having undergone PVI with the CB-A for paroxysmal AF (PAF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty-two patients 30 male (71%); mean age: 57.9 ± 21.1 years were included. All patients underwent a procedure with the large 28 mm CB-A. A total 168 PVs were depicted on the pre-procedural computed tomography scan. All PVs (100%) could be isolated with the CB only. The freedom from AF off-antiarrhythmic drug treatment after a single procedure was 78% of patients at a mean 11.6 ± 2.0 months follow-up. If considering a blanking period (BP) of 3 months, success rate was 83%. Phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) was the most frequent complication occurring in 19% of individuals. CONCLUSION: The CB-A is very effective in producing PVI and affords freedom from AF at 12 months follow-up in 83% of patients affected by drug-resistant PAF following a 3-month BP. The most frequent complication observed was PNP which occurred in 19% of patients. All PNP reverted during follow-up.
Chierchia et al. (Tue,) conducted a observational in Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n=42). Second-generation cryoballoon Advance (CB-A) ablation was evaluated on Freedom from recurrence of atrial fibrillation off-antiarrhythmic drug treatment. Second-generation cryoballoon ablation for drug-resistant paroxysmal atrial fibrillation achieved freedom from atrial fibrillation at 12 months in 83% of patients.