Finding the right timing in cryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein isolation

Background: Cryoballoon (CB) based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has proven to be as effective as radiofrequency (RF) based ablation. Different ablation protocols took the individual time-to-isolation (TTI) into account aiming at shorter but equally or even more effective freeze-cycles. The current study sought to assess the impact of the TTI on PVI durability in patients undergoing a repeat procedure for recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA). Methods and Results: In 205 patients with ATA recurrence after previous CB-based PVI a total of 806 PVs were identified. One hundred-twenty-six out of 806 PVs (16%) were previously treated with a TTI guided ablation (protocol #1; TTI+120 sec.), in 92/806 (11%) PVs TTI was only monitored (m) but fixed freeze-cycles were applied (protocol #2; mTTI) and in 588/806 (73%) a fixed freeze-cycle was applied without TTI-monitoring. There was no difference in the PV-reconduction rate between the groups (P=0.23). The right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) showed overall significantly higher reconduction rates compared to the other PVs (RIPV – left inferior PV (LIPV) p<0.003, -left superior PV (LSPV) p<0.001, - right superior PV RSPV p<0.013). In 21 patients (10%) only for the RIPV reconduction was assessed. Conclusions: TTI based CB ablation did not show significant differences regarding PV-reconduction rates compared to the other protocols.

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Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation as index procedure for persistent atrial fibrillation: a comparison between radiofrequency catheter ablation and second-generation cryoballoon ablation

EP Europace ◽

10.1093/europace/euu350 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 559-565 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

G. Ciconte ◽

G. Baltogiannis ◽

C. de Asmundis ◽

J. Sieira ◽

G. Conte ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Pulmonary Vein ◽

Pulmonary Vein Isolation ◽

Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation ◽

Second Generation ◽

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Cryoballoon Ablation ◽

Index Procedure ◽

Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Isolation

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Towards a tailored cryo-pulmonary vein isolation. Lessons learned from second-generation cryoballoon ablation

Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.tcm.2018.11.009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 420-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Giuseppe Ciconte ◽

Nicolas Coulombe ◽

Pedro Brugada ◽

Carlo de Asmundis ◽

Gian-Battista Chierchia

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Vein ◽

Pulmonary Vein Isolation ◽

Second Generation ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Cryoballoon Ablation

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Myocardial injury after pulmonary vein isolation: fire versus ice

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.0368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

A R Morgado Gomes ◽

N S C Antonio ◽

S Silva ◽

M Madeira ◽

P Sousa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pulmonary Vein ◽

Pulmonary Vein Isolation ◽

Troponin I ◽

Surrogate Marker ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Cryoballoon Ablation ◽

Single Shot ◽

High Sensitivity Troponin ◽

Ablation Index ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Introduction The cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation is pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), either using point-by-point radiofrequency ablation (RF) or single-shot ablation devices, such as cryoballoon ablation (CB). However, achieving permanent transmural lesions is difficult and pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection is common. Elevation of high-sensitivity Troponin I (hsTnI) may be used as a surrogate marker for transmural lesions. Still, data regarding the comparison of hsTnI increase after PVI with RF or cryo-energy is controversial. Purpose The aim of this study is to compare the magnitude of hsTnI elevation after PVI with CB versus RF using ablation index guidance. Methods Prospective study of 60 patients admitted for first ablation procedure of paroxysmal or persistent AF in a single tertiary Cardiology Department. Thirty patients were submitted to PVI using CB and 30 patients were submitted to RF, using CARTO® mapping system and ablation index guidance. Patients with atrial flutter were excluded. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups, as well as hsTnI before and after the procedure. Results Mean age was 57.9±12.3 years old, 62% of patients were male and 77% had paroxysmal AF. There were no significant differences between groups regarding gender, age, prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, obesity or AF type. There was also no significant difference in electrical cardioversion need during the procedure. HsTnI median value before ablation was 1.90±1.98 ng/dL. Postprocedural hsTnI was significantly higher in CB-group (6562.7±4756.2 ng/dL versus 1564.3±830.7 ng/dL in RF-group; P=0.001). Regarding periprocedural complications, there was only one case of mild pericardial effusion in RF-group associated with postablation hsTnI of 1180.0 ng/dL. Conclusions High-sensitivity Troponin I was significantly elevated after PVI, irrespective of the ablation technique. In CB-group, hsTnI elevation was significantly higher than in RF-group. This disparity may reflect more extensive lesions with cryoablation, without compromising safety. Longterm studies are needed to understand whether this hsTnI elevation is predictive of a lower AF recurrence rate. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

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Clinical success of cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation

Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

10.17802/2306-1278-2018-7-4s-6-14 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (4S) ◽

pp. 6-14

Author(s):

T. Y. Chichkova ◽

S. E. Mamchur ◽

E. A. Khomenko

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Pulmonary Vein ◽

Pulmonary Vein Isolation ◽

Direct Current ◽

Clinical Success ◽

Persistent Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Cryoballoon Ablation ◽

Clinical Effects ◽

Rf Ablation

Aim. To estimate the clinical success of cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).Methods.230 patients (males: 49.6%, mean age 57 (53; 62) with symptomatic paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) resistant to antiarrhythmic therapy were included in a single-center prospective study. The patients were randomized into 2 groups to undergo either cryoballoon ablation (n = 122) or radiofrequency (RF) (n = 108) ablation. Both groups were comparable in baseline parameters. The follow-up period was 12 months. Clinical outcomes were estimated with the use of a three-stage scale. The rates of cardiovascular rehospitalizations, direct-current cardioversions and repeated ablations during were estimated within the follow-up. The quality of life (QoL) in the cryoablation group was measured using the AFEQT scale.Results.77% (n = 94) of patients in the cryoballoon ablation group and 71.3% (n = 77) of patients in the RF group (р = 0.71) demonstrated reported the optimal clinical effects. Both groups, cryo ablation and RF ablation, had similar rates of cardiovascular hospitalizations (23.8 vs 28.7%, OR 0.8, 95% CI 0.4–1.4; р = 0.39), direct-current cardioversions (12.3 vs 17.6%, OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.3–1.4; р = 0.26) and repeated ablations (9.8–11.1%, OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.4–2.0; р = 0.75). The patients treated with cryoballoon as opposed to RF ablation had significantly more successful usage of “pill-in-pocket” strategy – 14.8 vs 6.5% (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.01–6.2; р = 0.04). Significant improvements of the QoL parameters with strong size effect have been found in the cryoablation group, i.e. global score (GS) increased by 8.9±6.9 (95% CI 6.6–10.1; dCohen 1.2; р<0.001), symptoms (S) – by 8.3±7.9 (95% CI 4.2–8.8; dCohen 1.5; р<0.001), daily activities (DA) – by 10.0±6.9 (95% CI = 6.4–10.6; dCohen 0.9; р<0.001), treatment concerns (TC) – by 5.5±6.0 (95% CI 6.3–9.2; dCohen 1.2; р<0.001) and treatment satisfaction (TS) – by 5.5±6.0 (95% CI 5.4–9.8; dCohen 0.9; р<0.001).Conclusion.The both catheter-based technologies had comparable clinical success. Cryoablation was characterized by improvement in all QoL parameters based on the AFEQT score.

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