Cryoablation Of Pulmonary Veins Research Articles

Normal Pulmonary Veins Anatomy is Associated with Better AF‐Free Survival after Cryoablation as Compared to Atypical Anatomy with Common Left Pulmonary Vein

Pulmonary vein cryoablation (PVC) is a new approach in the treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). Computed tomography (CT) can be used to evaluate the left atrium anatomy and PVs dimensions to facilitate the procedure. In radiofrequency procedures, some anatomic variants such as common left (CLPV) or right (CRPV) PV were reported as factors associated with technical procedure difficulties and potential long-term complications. We hypothesized that the absence of CLPV as determined by CT would predict better AF-free survival after PVC. We included 118 consecutive patients (mean age 56 ± 10 years; 77% males) with drug refractory paroxysmal (72%)/persistent (28%) AF, with more than 6 months follow-up, who underwent PVC. On CT scanning images performed within 1 month prior to ablation, we evaluated PV anatomic patterns: presence of CLPV or CRPV. Each patient was evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring within 1 and 3 months and all patients were periodically evaluated at 1, 3, and 6 months, and every 6 months thereafter. Patients were asked to record their 12-lead electrocardiogram whenever they experienced symptoms suggestive of AF. Recurrence was defined as AF that lasted at least 30 seconds. CLPV was present in 30 (25%) patients and no patients with CRPV were identified. At the end of the 13 months follow-up, patients with normal PVs had significantly better AF-free survival compared to patients with CLPV (67% vs 50%, P = 0.02). The difference was present in patients with paroxysmal AF (P = 0.008) but not in patients with persistent AF (P = 0.92). In patients undergoing cryoballoon PV isolation for AF, the presence of normal PVs pattern is associated with better AF-free survival as compared to atypical PV anatomy with CLPV, particularly in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Abstract 4648: Mechanism of Tissue Cooling With Cryoenergy Delivery to Pulmonary Veins: Tissue Temperature Distribution and Chonic Esophageal Effects

Background: Although pulmonary vein (PV) isolation has been used to treat AF, complications create important limitations. New energy sources, including cryothermal, have been developed to minimize these complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PV cryoablation on esophageal (ESO) temperatures acutely and correlate them with chronic effects on the esophageal wall. Methods: A 23 mm cryoballoon was placed in the LA of 10 dogs through a 12 Fr deflectable sheath. PV and ESO temperatures (TEMP) were recorded using 7–9 thermocouples (TC) outside the PVs and on the external and internal ESO surfaces during 2 cryoablations of 4 min duration. Results : Cryoablation of 15 PV (10 RIPV and 5 LIPV) during 1.7±0.6 ablations yielded a total of 168 TC time-TEMP profiles (6.4±2.4/PV). Minimum tissue TEMP was inversely dependent on the distance of the TC from the balloon surface (Table 1 ). All PVs were isolated acutely and 14/15 (93%) chronically. Minimum TEMP achieved at the PV surface and external ESO were similar (−32±8 and −37±9 at targets within 2.5 mm from the balloon respectively [P=NS]). A TEMP decrease at the internal ESO was seen during 15 of 25 (60%) ablations, but was significantly less pronounced than the external TEMP (17.9°C±13.3 and 6.1°C±24.8 [p<0.05]) resulting in a minimum recorded internal TEMP of −6.2°C. The ESO histological examination in 5 dogs showed very limited external lesions in these dogs (depth= 2.2±1.1, width3 18.6±7.4 and length= 12±5.7 mm), but no transmural or internal ulceration, fibrosis or scarring seen. Conclusion: Although PV cryoablation decreases external ESO temperature and produces minor lesions, significant chronic disruptive tissue damage was not seen. Esophageal injury is an unlikely, but potential complication of cryoablation, with internal temperature proving unhelpful in predict negative outcome.

Transvenous Catheter Cryoablation for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation:

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using radiofrequency (RF) ablation can induce PV stenosis. Cryoablation may offer a safer alternative energy source for PV isolation. PV isolation with cryoablation was attempted in 31 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Event monitors were used to measure the AF episode burden. Serial spiral CT scans were obtained to monitor PV stenosis pre- and postcryoablation. Cryoablation was immediately successful for PV isolation in 29 of 31 patients (94%), with 5.9 +/- 1.2 months of follow-up. Additional RF ablation was performed for AF recurrences in seven patients. The remaining 22 patients with a single cryoablation procedure demonstrated a time-dependent, long-term reduction in the frequency of AF episodes. At 6 months of follow-up, 18 of 22 of cryo-treated only patients (82%) were free of symptomatic AF episodes, and antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued in 12 of 22 patients. Serial spiral CT scans demonstrated no change in the cryo-treated PV ostial diameter. PV cryoablation was effective to control paroxysmal AF in most patients. Early recurrences of AF postcryoablation were common, though tended to resolve within 6 months postablation, consistent with a process of reverse atrial remodeling. Cryoablation of the PVs did not cause PV stenosis or other serious adverse events.

Percutaneous pulmonary vein cryoablation to treat atrial fibrillation.

Cryothermic tissue injury, unlike hyperthermic tissue injury, preserves tissue architecture and causes less thrombus formation, and thus may prevent venous stenosis and stroke in ablating pulmonary veins (PVs) to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigate the feasibility, efficacy, safety and clinical outcome of using percutaneous cryoablation to treat such patients. Thirty-one patients who had drug refractory paroxysmal (20) or persistent (11) AF underwent 37 PV ablative procedures using a 4 mm- or 6 mm-tipped 7F cryoablation catheter (CryoCath Technologies Inc., Quebec, Canada). Segmental isolation at the veno-atrial junction was guided by a distal circumferential mapping catheter. A total of 47 PV were ablated, of which 35/47 (74%) were electrically isolated and the remaining 12/47 had attenuation of PV electrograms, altered activation sequence, and marked slowing of left atrial-PV conduction. There was no change in PV diameter, either immediately following cryoablation (21 +/- 5 versus 22 +/- 6, p = 0.69), or at 18 +/- 9 months follow-up (22 +/- 5 versus 22 +/- 5 mm, p = 0.23). There was no clinical thromboembolic event. The duration of cryoablation for each treated PV and procedural duration was 65 +/- 39 and 290 +/- 101 min, respectively. Following cryoablation, 5/30 (6%) were free from AF and 12/30 (43%) showed improvement from previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drug therapy. 13/30 (43%) patients were unchanged by cryoablation. Cryothermic ablation shows great promise in reducing the risks of PV stenosis and thrombo-embolism associated with PV isolative procedures. However, cryoablation of these veins with linear catheters is time consuming, and the clinical outcomes are disappointing. Alternative catheter designs are required to overcome these difficulties.

2678 Acute efficacy of Lasso-guided cryoablation of pulmonary veins in atrial fibrillation: first experience

2678 Acute efficacy of Lasso-guided cryoablation of pulmonary veins in atrial fibrillation: first experience