Long-Term Outcomes After Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation
Atrial Fibrillation Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013Am Coll Cardiology: April 23, 2013
Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate long-term outcomes of freedom from atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using cryoballoon ablation with balloon-size selection based on individual PV diameters.
Background Data are lacking on long-term outcomes from cryoablation and on the most effective balloon size.
Methods This was a prospective observational study involving 605 consecutively enrolled patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF (n = 579) or persistent AF. Cryoballoon size was based on magnetic resonance imaging and/or conventional angiograms. Patients were followed up every 3 months during the first year after discharge and every 6 months in the second year. After 24 months, follow-up was on an outpatient basis with documented AF episodes recorded. Read more