Is achievement of pulmonary vein isolation the only effect of cryoballoon ablation in long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation?

Abstract

A case of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LPAF) that underwent hybrid treatment combining transvenous cryothermal and radiofrequency (RF) energy is described in the present report. Complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) maps before and after cryoablation revealed not only pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), but also a large antral ablation of CFAEs. Following cryoablation, a severe reduction in remote left atrial CFAE area was observed.

Keywords

• atrial fibrillation
• ablation
• cryoballoon