Simultaneous pulmonary vein cryoablation and cavotricuspid isthmus radiofrequency ablation in patients with combined atrial fibrillation and typical atrial flutter

Abstract

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon (CB) technique and cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation using radiofrequency (RF) are established interventions for drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) and typical atrial flutter (AFL). Twelve patients with a mean age of 62 ± 12 years underwent simultaneous delivery of RF energy at the CTI during CB applications at the PV ostia. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all PVs and sustained bidirectional CTI conduction block obtained in all patients. The reported ablation protocol of combined paroxysmal AF and typical AFL did not result in prolongation of the procedure duration or in prolonged radiation exposure when compared to CB-PVI alone. No interferences between both ablation energy systems were observed. These preliminary results suggest that combined paroxysmal AF and typical AFL can be successfully and safely ablated using hybrid energy sources with simultaneous CTI ablation using RF during CB applications at the PV ostia.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrial flutter; Cryoablation; Cryoballoon; Radiofrequency ablation.