Key result
Left atrial appendage isolation using a cryo-balloon successfully terminated focal atrial tachycardia originating from an LAA ligation stump and converted the patient to sinus rhythm.
Why the study?
Catheter ablation of focal atrial tachycardias arising from the LAA remains challenging due to complex anatomy, making alternative strategies such as cryo-balloon isolation relevant when endocardial ablation fails.
Does LAA isolation using a cryo-balloon terminate focal atrial tachycardia originating in a LAA ligation stump refractory to RF ablation?
Case Report (n=1)
Does LAA isolation using a cryo-balloon terminate focal atrial tachycardia originating in a LAA ligation stump refractory to RF ablation?
Cryo-balloon LAA isolation successfully treated a focal atrial tachycardia originating from an LAA ligation stump after failed RF ablation.
Cryo-balloon LAA isolation may succeed for refractory focal AT from ligation stumps; single case leaves open prospective validation.
Left atrial appendage (LAA) has been known as a source of focal atrial tachycardias (AT)。Radio-frequency (RF) energy based focal ablation of these arrhythmias was a common strategy in most cases. However, catheter ablation in these foci remains challenging due to the complexity of the LAA anatomy. Sometimes an epicardial approach is an alternative when endocardial ablation of LAA fails. Cryo-balloon based LAA isolation may be considered before epicardial access3。We report a patient with focal atrial tachycardia originated in the tip of a LAA ligation stump (he underwent a heart valve mitral bio-prostheses replacement and had his LAA ligated during the operation years ago), who, being refractory to focal RF ablation, received a LAA isolation using a cryo-balloon which successfully terminated the tachycardia and converted the patient to sinus rhythm.
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Li et al. (2020) conducted a case report in Focal atrial tachycardia (n=1). Left atrial appendage isolation using a cryo-balloon was evaluated on Termination of tachycardia and conversion to sinus rhythm. Left atrial appendage isolation using a cryo-balloon successfully terminated focal atrial tachycardia originating from an LAA ligation stump and converted the patient to sinus rhythm.
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