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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology

Published in:

01-08-2017

Single freeze strategy with the second- generation cryballoon for atrial fibrillation: a multicenter international retrospective analysis in a large cohort of patients

Authors: Valentina De Regibus, Saverio Iacopino, Juan Pablo Abugattas, Hugo Enrique Coutiño, Giacomo Mugnai, Cesare Storti, Giulio Conte, Angelo Auricchio, Darragh Moran, Erwin Ströker, Luis Marroquin, Ken Takarada, Rajin Choudhury, Carlo de Asmundis, Pedro Brugada, Gian-Battista Chierchia

Published in: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology | Issue 2/2017

Abstract

Purpose

The second-generation cryoballoon (CB-A, Arctic Front Advance, Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) has proven to be highly effective in achieving freedom from atrial fibrillation; nonetheless, the ideal number and duration of freezing cycles is still a matter of debate. We investigated the acute success, procedural complications, and clinical outcome of a single freeze strategy using the CB-A in a large, retrospective, international multicenter study.

Methods

Between January 2013 and September 2015, 818 consecutive patients (58 ± 12 years, 68% males) with drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent a CB-A using a single freeze strategy were taken into consideration for our analysis.

Results

Paroxysmal AF was documented in 74.1% of the patients, while 25.9% presented with persistent AF. Additional freezes were needed in a mean 1.4 veins per patient. 0.2% of the patients experienced persistent PNP that was still documented at the last follow-up. After a median follow-up of 14 ± 8 months, taking into consideration a blanking period (BP) of 3 months, 692 patients (84.6%) were free from arrhythmia recurrence. After a single procedure, AF recurrence during BP and persistent AF were identified as predictors of clinical recurrence after BP.

Conclusions

Single freeze CB-A ablation is effective in treating drug-resistant AF and affords freedom from arrhythmia recurrences in 84.6% of patients during a 14-month follow-up. Persistent AF and recurrence during BP are predictors of arrhythmia recurrences.

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Title: Single freeze strategy with the second- generation cryballoon for atrial fibrillation: a multicenter international retrospective analysis in a large cohort of patients
Authors: Valentina De Regibus
Saverio Iacopino
Juan Pablo Abugattas
Hugo Enrique Coutiño
Giacomo Mugnai
Cesare Storti
Giulio Conte
Angelo Auricchio
Darragh Moran
Erwin Ströker
Luis Marroquin
Ken Takarada
Rajin Choudhury
Carlo de Asmundis
Pedro Brugada
Gian-Battista Chierchia
Publication date: 01-08-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 1383-875X
Electronic ISSN: 1572-8595
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-017-0254-6

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Single freeze strategy with the second- generation cryballoon for atrial fibrillation: a multicenter international retrospective analysis in a large cohort of patients

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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