Cryoballoon ablation results and complications in mid-term follow-up of patients with atrial fibrillation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and its prevalence increases with advancing age. Pulmonary vein isolation is a standard approach in drug refractory paroxysmal AF which could be performed by cryoballoon ablation (CBA). We tried to evaluate its efficacy and safety in Iranian patients with AF. METHODS: From 2015 to 2017, 97 patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF were enrolled in our observational historical cohort study. They were visited 1 and 6 months post-procedure in order to assess the efficacy (recurrence) and safety. Recurrence was defined as 30 seconds of arrhythmia on their 48-hours Holter monitoring. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients enrolled in the study, 64 (66.0) of them were men, and their mean age was 55 +/- 12 years. Hypertension was reported in 41 patients (42.3), as the most common cardiac risk factor. 71 patients (73.2) patients with paroxysmal AF and 15 patients (15.5) with persistent AF underwent the procedure. After 6 months, recurrence was documented in only 17 patients (17.5), and 82.5 of the patients were free from the recurrence. Post-procedural complication was detected only in 3 patients (3.1). CONCLUSION: In our study, the mid-term success and safety of CBA in patients with paroxysmal AF was showed. CBA is a safe and effective method in paroxysmal AF, and even in some cases with persistent AF.