Case report: Cryoballoon ablation of the mitral isthmus using a novel mapping system

Efficacy and safety of pulmonary vein isolation with pulsed field ablation vs. novel cryoballoon ablation system for atrial fibrillation

AIMS

Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a novel treatment technology for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Cryoballoon (CB) is the most frequently used single shot technology. A direct comparison to a novel CB system is lacking. We aimed to compare pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using PFA vs. a novel CB system regarding efficiency, safety, myocardial injury, and outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One hundred and eighty-one consecutive patients underwent PVI and were included (age 64 ± 9.7 years, ejection fraction 0.58 ± 0.09, left atrial size 40 ± 6.4 mm, paroxysmal AF 64%). 106 patients (59%) underwent PFA (FARAPULSE, Boston Scientific) and 75 patients (41%) underwent CB ablation (PolarX, Boston Scientific). The median procedure time, left atrial dwell time and fluoroscopic time were similar between the PFA and the CB group with 55 [interquartile range (IQR) 43-64] min vs. 58 (IQR 48-69) min (P < 0.087), 38 (30-49) min vs. 37 (31-48) min, (P = 0.871), and 11 (IQR 9.3-14) min vs. 11 (IQR 8.7-16) min, (P < 0.81), respectively. Three procedural complications were observed in the PFA group (two tamponades, one temporary ST elevation) and three complications in the CB group (3× reversible phrenic nerve palsies). During the median follow-up of 404 days (IQR 208-560), AF recurrence was similar in the PFA group and the CB group with 24 vs. 30%, P = 0.406.

CONCLUSION

Procedural characteristics were very similar between PFA and CB in regard to procedure duration fluoroscopy time and complications. Atrial fibrillation free survival did not differ between the PFA and CB groups.

Cryoballoon Ablation Beyond Pulmonary Vein Isolation in the Setting of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

INTRODUCTION

Catheter ablation has been demonstrated to be a safe and an effective treatment for drug resistant atrial fibrillation (AF); electrical isolation of pulmonary veins (PVI) is the main strategy in paroxysmal AF, since pulmonary vein triggers have a pivotal role in its pathogenesis; non-paroxysmal AF is a complex arrhythmia that results from the interplay of a substrate, namely AF-induced electrical and structural atrial remodeling, and a trigger that can be often found outside pulmonary veins, namely non-pulmonary veins triggers.

AREAS COVERED

The aim of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of non-pulmonary veins triggers with special focus on cryoballoon (CB) catheter ablation.

EXPERT OPINION

Besides PVI, CB catheter ablation of non-pulmonary veins triggers is a novel and promising strategy for non-paroxysmal AF.

Cryoballoon ablation for extrapulmonary vein targets

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cryoballoon catheter can create large and contiguous lesions with stable contact during ablation. It has proven to be well tolerated and effective in pulmonary vein isolation. But atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia, and atrial flutter (AFL), also relate to many extrapulmonary vein targets. It is necessary to understand the current evidence for the use of cryoballoon ablation for targets outside of pulmonary veins.

RECENT FINDINGS

Studies have shown that the cryoballoon ablation can be used in extrapulmonary vein area, including left atrium roof, left atrial appendages, posterior left atrial wall, mitral isthmus, and right atrial appendage. The results indicate cryoballoon ablation is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the atrial arrhythmias in these locations outside of pulmonary vein when clinical necessary.

SUMMARY

The cryoballoon ablation can safely and effectively perform contiguous linear lesions, structure isolations, and local ablation for targets outside of the pulmonary veins.