Journal of Arrhythmia (Oct 2018)

Influence of balloon temperature and time to pulmonary vein isolation on acute pulmonary vein reconnection and clinical outcomes after cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation

  • Ryuta Watanabe,
  • Yasuo Okumura,
  • Koichi Nagashima,
  • Kazuki Iso,
  • Keiko Takahashi,
  • Masaru Arai,
  • Yuji Wakamatsu,
  • Sayaka Kurokawa,
  • Kimie Ohkubo,
  • Toshiko Nakai,
  • Shunichi Yoda,
  • Ichiro Watanabe,
  • Atsushi Hirayama,
  • Kazumasa Sonoda,
  • Toshimasa Tosaka

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/joa3.12108
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 34, no. 5
pp. 511 – 519

Abstract

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Abstract Background Limited data exist on indicators of durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated whether balloon temperature and time to PVI can be used to predict early PV reconduction (EPVR), including residual PV conduction and adenosine triphosphate‐induced dormant conduction and the relation between touch‐up ablation of EPVR sites and mid‐term recurrence of AF. Methods We obtained procedural and outcome data from the records of 130 consecutive patients who underwent CBA and followed up for 13.4 months. Results EPVR was identified in 86 (17%) PVs of 61 (47%) patients. Balloon temperatures during 30 seconds (−27 ± 5.7°C vs −31 ± 5.5°C), 60 seconds (−36 ± 5.6°C vs −41 ± 5.4°C), and at the nadir point (−41 ± 7.4°C vs −49 ± 7.0°C) were significantly higher, and the time to PVI was longer (90 ± 50 seconds vs 52 ± 29 seconds) in PVs with EPVR than in those without (P < 0.0001 for all). Among PVs without EPVR, the time to PVI was longer and balloon temperature was lower for the left superior pulmonary vein/ right inferior pulmonary vein (LSPV/RIPV) than for the right superior pulmonary vein/left inferior pulmonary vein (RSPV/LIPV) (time: 60 ± 25/73 ± 37 seconds vs 41 ± 31/45 ± 20 seconds, P < 0.0001) (temp: −39.2 ± 11.3/−39.4 ± 8.3°C vs −33.8 ± 10.6/−33.6 ± 6.8°C, P = 0.0023). AF recurrence rates were equivalent between patients with and without EPVR (13% [8/69] vs 15% [9/61], P = 0.845). Conclusions Cryoballoon temperature and time to PVI appear to be useful in predicting durable PVI, that is, prevention of EPVR, but the balloon temperature and time required for PVI differ between PVs. Although EPVR does not predict AF recurrence, high success rates can be expected when touch‐up ablation of EPVR sites is performed.

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