Cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: mid-term outcome evaluated by ECG monitoring with an implantable loop recorder.

BACKGROUND: The success rate after cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) performed for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) might be overestimated by traditional noninvasive monitoring techniques. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mid-term outcome of CB-A in patients with PAF implanted with an implantable loop recorder (ILR) after the procedure. METHODS: Between January 2017 and March 2019, all patients who underwent CB-A for PAF and who were subsequently implanted with an ILR were retrospectively included. All devices were equipped with remote monitoring. All ILR-documented atrial tachycardia (AT) or AF episodes ≥ 6 min were considered as recurrence; both true and false episodes were collected. A 3-month post-procedural blanking period (BP) was applied. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients (77 men, mean age 60.6 ± 9.6 years) who underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by CB-A were included; mean time from first diagnosis of AF to PVI was 51.5 ± 46.9 months. Mean follow-up was 29.3 ± 8.1 months; at 12-month follow-up, the success rate was 65.7%, while at 2-year follow-up, freedom from AT/AF recurrences was achieved in 59.3% of the patients. In the follow-up, a total of 4987 ECG strips were analyzed; true-positive episodes were confirmed in 2026 cases (40.6%), whereas 2961 episodes (59.4%) were considered false-positive. CONCLUSION: In patients with PAF implanted with an ILR, CB-A results in freedom from any AT/AF recurrence in 65.7% of patients at 12-month follow-up and in 59.3% of patients when evaluated at 2-year. Careful adjudication of all ILR-documented AF episodes is required to avoid misdiagnosis.

Predictors of durable electrical isolation in the setting of second-generation cryoballoon ablation: A comparison between left superior, left inferior, right superior, and right inferior pulmonary veins.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess specific per-vein procedural predictors of pulmonary vein (PV) late reconnection in cryoballoon ablation (CbA) METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 148 consecutive patients undergoing a redo procedure after a previous index CbA in our center. A reconnection in at least one PV was found in 80 patients (54.1%) and the most frequently reconnected PV was the right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV). Overall, pulmonary vein reconnection (PVr) was associated with longer time to -40°C (Tt-40°C) (54.4 ± 21.7 vs 67.6 ± 27.6 seconds; P < .001), warmer nadir temperature (NT) (-49.7°C ± 5.4°C vs -46.5°C ± 5.8°C; P < .001) and temperature at 60 seconds (-41.8°C ± 4.5°C vs -39.8°C ± 4.2°C; P < .001). The performance of these predictors differed between the veins. In particular, a comparable behavior was observed for left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) and right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), where NT ≤ -48°C showed a sensibility and a specificity, respectively, of 62% and 65% and 71% and 72% in predicting durable PV isolation. For RIPV, NT ≤ -48°C showed a sensitivity of 74% but low specificity (53%). Tt -40°C less than 60 seconds showed good negative predictive values, respectively, 83.9% for LSPV, 94.9% for left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV), 90.2% for RSPV, and 82.7% for RIPV. Previous predictors cannot be used for LIPV. CONCLUSIONS: Freezing behavior and reconnection rates differ significantly among the four PVs. Freezing temperature parameters strongly predict late PVr in superior PVs and are slightly different in RIPV but can be applied as well. LIPV freezing behavior is the most different. Its reconnection is uncommon even in the subset of worse freezing temperatures and specific CB predictors cannot be identified.

Pulmonary veins anatomical determinants of cooling kinetics during second-generation cryoballoon ablation.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of anatomical characteristics of the pulmonary veins (PVs) determining cooling kinetics during second-generation cryoballoon ablation (CbA). METHODS AND RESULTS: we enrolled all consecutive patients who underwent CbA for symptomatic atrial fibrillation in our center from January 2019 to March 2019. All patients had complete computed tomography scans of the heart before the ablation. Anatomical characteristics were tested for prediction of a nadir temperature (NT) ≤ -48°C. Significant differences were noted among PV max diameter (20.8 ± 2.8 vs 18.5 ± 2.5 mm; P < .001); PV minimum diameter (15.2 ± 3.0 vs 13.0 ± 3.1 mm; P < .001); PV area (268.1 ± 71.9 vs 206.2 ± 58.7 mm2 ; P < .001); PV ovality (1.4 ± 0.3 vs 1.5 ± 0.3; P = .005); and PV trunk length (27.4 ± 7.4 vs 21.3 ± 6.5 mm; P < .001). A scoring system was created by assigning one point each ranging from 0 (best anatomical combination) to 5. In the group with a score of 0, 94.0% of the CbA could reach a NT ≤ -48°C whereas with a score of 5, only 29.0% (P < .001). Left superior pulmonary vein with short trunk length and acute angle of PV branch was significantly associated with warmer NT (11.8% satisfactory CbA; P = .003). Regarding right inferior pulmonary vein, trunk length (P = .004), maximum diameter (P = .044), and transverse angle (P = .008) were independently associated with good NT. CONCLUSION: Anatomical PV features are associated with cooling kinetics and an anatomical score could predict lower NT during second-generation CbA. Specific characteristics were identified for inferior PV. Although heart imaging is not mandatory prior CbA, it can be a useful tool to predict cooling kinetics.

A novel strategy to treat vaso-vagal syncope: Cardiac neuromodulation by cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical management of vaso-vagal syncope (VVS) remains challenging since no therapy has proven to completely prevent VVS recurrence. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mid-term outcome of cryoballoon (CB) cardioneuroablation achieved by pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with VVS. METHODS: Patients who underwent CB cardioneuroablation in our centers between January 2014 to June 2018 were included. All patients had a history of VVS or pre-syncope despite therapeutic attempts with medical and/or pacing treatments. Patients were excluded in case of structural heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases or suspected drug-related syncope. Both heart rate (HR) and atrio-ventricular (AV) interval were analyzed on the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) the day before the procedure, the day after, and in the follow-up. RESULTS: In total, 26 patients (76.9% males, 37.5 ± 9.0 years old) were included. All patients underwent a successful procedure with the 28 mm second-generation Arctic Front Advance CB. No major complication occurred. At a mean follow-up of 20.1 ± 11.6 months the freedom from VVS or reflex pre-syncope was 83,7%, with 22 patients free from any clinical recurrence. Basal HR significantly increased the day after the procedure (57.2 bpm vs 78.3 bpm, p < 0.001), while at the final follow-up it stabilized at a value halfway between the 2 previous ones (69.8 bpm, p = 0.0086). The AV interval didn't modify significantly after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Endocardial autonomic denervation achieved by CB PVI appears to be an effective and safe treatment option for patients with refractory VVS and reflex pre-syncope.

Anatomic predictors of late right inferior pulmonary vein reconnection in the setting of second-generation cryoballoon ablation.

INTRODUCTION: The right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) accounts as the most frequently reconnected vein after pulmonary vein isolation using second-generation cryoballoon ablation (CB-A). Our objective was to assess anatomic predictors of late RIPV reconnection based on preprocedural computed tomography scan. METHODS: Patients with a repeat procedure for atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence after index CB-A procedure were included. A total of 129 RIPVs were evaluated for ostial diameters, ostial area, and branching pattern. Interior angle between RIPV and horizontal line in the frontal/transversal plane was used to measure the RIPV orientation: RIPV frontal/transversal angle, respectively. In addition, interior angle between RIPV and the line perpendicular on the septal intersection line at the level of the fossa ovalis, estimated as trans-septal (TS) puncture site, was measured in the frontal/transversal view: RIPV-TS frontal/transversal angle, respectively. RESULTS: Late vein reconnection was present in 36/129 RIPVs (28%). Warmer balloon nadir temperature (P = .01), more inferior (P < .001) and posterior (P < .01) RIPV orientation (ie, more positive RIPV frontal and RIPV transversal angle, respectively), and sharper RIPV-TS frontal angle (P < .001) were associated with late RIPV reconnection on univariate analysis. Independent variables after multivariate analysis were nadir temperature (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.23; P = .013) and RIPV frontal angle (OR, 1.13, CI, 1.07-1.19; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Frontal RIPV orientation could significantly predict late RIPV electrical reconnection after CB-A. Therefore, preprocedural anatomic assessment of the RIPV might be useful to plan the correct ablation strategy.

Radiofrequency versus cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in the setting of left common pulmonary veins.

BACKGROUND: A left common pulmonary vein (LCPV) accounts as the most frequent pulmonary vein (PV) variation. Our aim was to compare the performance of radiofrequency (RF) versus second-generation cryoballoon (CB-A) ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and LCPVs. METHODS: In a total cohort of 716 patients undergoing PV isolation with preprocedural CT-scanning, LCPV+ patients were selected with measurement of PV ostial area and trunk distance. All LCPV+ patients were matched between RF and CB-A group in a 1:1 ratio based on propensity scores, and compared for outcome. RESULTS: Left common pulmonary veins were found in 31% (88/283) RF versus 34% (146/433) CB-A patients, respectively, (P = .44). In the matched population of 83 LCPV+ patients in each group, electrical isolation could be achieved in all left-sided PVs. No significant difference was noted for the rate of AF/left atrial tachyarrhythmia (LAT) recurrence between RF and CB-A group (30% vs 28%, P = .86), with similar AF/LAT-free survival (log rank, P = .71). There were 48 patients with AF/LAT recurrence (29%) during the follow-up. Recurrence rate between paroxysmal versus persistent AF was 27/120 (22.5%) versus 21/46 (46%), P = .004. Cox proportional regression analysis withheld LA volume and persistent AF as independent variables to predict AF/LAT recurrence. No increased hazard for AF/LAT recurrence was observed for patients with a long (>15 mm) vs short (5-15 mm) LCPV trunk (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.6-2.2, P = .7). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, equal efficacy and outcome was noted in LCPV+ patients between RF and CB-A technology.

Cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in octogenarians: a propensity score-based analysis with a younger cohort.

BACKGROUND: In terms of safety and efficacy, cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) has become a valid option for achieving pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients affected by symptomatic atrial fibrillation. However, CB-A data in octogenarians are still scarce and limited to single-centre experiences. The present multicentre study aimed to compare the outcomes and complications of index CB-A in patients older than 80 years with a cohort of younger patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively enrolled 97 consecutive patients aged ≥80 years who underwent PVI using the second-generation CB-A. This group was compared with a younger cohort of patients using a 1:1 propensity score matching. After the matching, 70 patients from the elderly group were analysed and compared with 70 younger patients (control group). The mean age was 81.4 ±â€Š1.9 years among octogenarians and 65.2 ±â€Š10.2 years in the younger cohort. The global success rate after a median follow-up of 23 [18-32.5] months was 60.0% in the elderly group and 71.4% in the control group (P = 0.17). Phrenic nerve palsy was the most common complication occurring in a total of 11 patients (7.9%): in 6 (8.6%) patients in the elderly group and in 5 patients (7.1%) in the younger group (P = 0.51). Only two (1.4%) major complications occurred: one (1.4%) femoral artery pseudoaneurysm in the control group, which resolved with a tight groin bandage, and one (1.4%) case of urosepsis in the elderly group. Arrhythmia recurrence during the blanking period and the need for electrical cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm after PVI were found to be the only independent predictors of late arrhythmia relapses. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that CB-A PVI is as feasible, safe and effective among appropriately selected octogenarians as it is in younger patients.

Safety and long-term efficacy of cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in octogenarians: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: Cryoballoon technology (CB-A) has become a cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in terms of safety and efficacy. Data regarding CB-A in octogenarians are still scarce and limited to single center experiences. The present study sought to analyze the performances of index CB-A in patients older than 80 years-old referring to 3 high-volume European centers. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively enrolled 95 patients with a median age of 81 [80, 83] years. 62 (65.3%) patients presented with paroxysmal AF and 33 (33.7%) with persistent AF. Mean procedure and fluoroscopy times were 73.8 ± 25.2 and 15.3 ± 7.5 min, respectively. At 12 months and 24 months of follow-up, the overall freedom from AF was 81.1% and 66.6%, respectively. When divided for AF type, freedom from AF was higher in patients with paroxysmal AF (p = 0.007). Cryoballoon ablation was able to significantly improve AF-related symptoms as proven by the significant decrease in EHRA score during the follow-up (p < 0.0001). Phrenic nerve palsy occurred in 8 (8.5%) patients and always resolved during the procedure without affecting procedural outcome. Two major complications occurred (2.1%); one patient experienced pneumonia, successfully treated with antibiotics and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the latter one experienced acute kidney failure secondary to urosepsis successfully treated by renal replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that CB-A is a feasible and effective procedure among octogenarians with a low complication rate. Contemporarily, CB-A can help to alleviate arrhythmia-related symptoms also among this group of subjects.

High parasympathetic activity as reflected by deceleration capacity predicts atrial fibrillation recurrence after repeated catheter ablation procedure.

PURPOSE: High parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity is accurately reflected by deceleration capacity (DC) and is involved in atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation procedure. When compared with initial catheter ablation procedure, repeated procedures for AF recurrence are followed by a lower success rates, estimated at 50%. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of PNS activity assessed by DC measured before repeated procedure on AF recurrence after repeated procedure. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent an initial catheter ablation procedure for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation and a repeated catheter ablation procedure for AF recurrence were selected. Additional 24-h ambulatory electrocardiographic recording between procedures for DC measurement was required for inclusion. A total of 110 patients were included. Seventy-two patients underwent cryoballoon (CB) ablation and 38 patients underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation as initial procedure, while all patients underwent RF ablation as repeated procedure. RESULTS: DC was higher in cases with right-sided PV reconnection (p = 0.04, OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.08-1.78). In patients with CB ablation as initial procedure, DC was higher in patients with PV reconnection (p = 0.03, OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.11-1.70), and the number of reconnected PVs was higher in patients with DC ≥ 7.0 ms (median DC value used for dichotomization, p = 0.02, OR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.10-4.37). In multivariate Cox regression, DC predicted AF recurrence after repeated ablation (p = 0.004, HR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.35-1.82). In multivariate binary regression, DC predicted persistent AF type recurrence after repeated ablation (p = 0.01, OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.10-2.02). CONCLUSIONS: DC is a novel predictor of AF recurrence and AF recurrence type after repeated catheter ablation procedure. DC may reflect the need of more intensive treatment strategies in patients with high PNS activity.

Phrenic nerve palsy during right-sided pulmonary veins cryoapplications: new insights from pulmonary vein anatomy addressed by computed tomography.

PURPOSE: There is still sparse information regarding phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) during the cryoablation of both right-sided pulmonary vein (PV) and its anatomical predictors. METHODS: Consecutive patients who had undergone pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using CB-A and suffered PNP during both right-sided PVs were retrospectively included in our study. Two other groups were then selected among patients who experienced PNP during RIPV application only (group 2) and RSPV application only (group 3). RESULTS: The incidence of PNI during both right-sided PVs cryoapplications was 2.1%, (32 of 1542 patients). There were no significant clinical differences between the 3 groups. Time from basal temperature to -40 °C significantly differed among the groups for both RIPV (p = 0.0026) and RSPV applications (p = 0.0382). Patients with PNP occurring during RSPV applications had significantly larger RSPV cross-sectional area compared to patients without PNP (p = 0.0116), while in patients with PNP during RIPV application, the angle of RIPV ostium on the transverse plane was significantly smaller compared to patients without PNP (p = 0.0035). The carina width was significantly smaller in patients with PNP occurring during both right-sided PVs cryoapplications compared to patients in which PNP occurred only during one right-sided PV application (p < 0.0001); a cutoff value of 8.5 mm had a sensitivity of 87.3% and a specificity of 75.0%. CONCLUSION: PNP in both right-sided PVs applications is a complication that occurred in 2.1% of cases during CB-A. Pre-procedural evaluation of right PVs anatomy might be useful in evaluating the risk of PNP.

Temperature-guided ablation with the second-generation cryoballoon for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: 3-year follow-up in a multicenter experience.

PURPOSE: A strategy based on the attainment of the specific parameter of - 40 °C within the first 60 s during cryoenergy applications in the setting of cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) without the use of an inner lumen mapping catheter (ILMC) (Achieve; Medtronic, USA) for the visualization of real-time recordings (RTR) has been previously described. The latter has proven to be very effective in guaranteeing freedom from atrial arrhythmias in patients affected by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) at 1-year follow-up. The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of this strategy in a multicenter experience on a long-term follow-up of 3 years. METHODS: A total of 192 patients having undergone CB ablation for paroxysmal AF (PAF) starting from September 2015 to November 2016 that underwent a temperature-guided approach were included. RESULTS: Mean procedural time was 68.77 ± 18.88. The mean number of freezes in the LSPV was 1.2 ± 0.4, 1.2 ± 0.4 in the LIPV, 1.1 ± 0.4 in the RSPV, and 1.2 ± 0.4 in the RIPV. Considering a blanking period of 3 months, freedom from AF off-AAD was achieved in 77.6% (149/192) at mean 34.5 ± 5.5 months and median 35.1 months (IQR, 32.3-37.0 months) follow-up after 1 procedure. CONCLUSIONS: A temperature-guided approach affords freedom from AF at a 3-year follow-up period in a large majority of patients affected by PAF having undergone a single CB-A procedure.

Two-year follow-up of one-stage left unilateral thoracoscopic epicardial and transcatheter endocardial ablation for persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy and complication rates of a one-stage left unilateral thoracoscopic hybrid procedure in a series of patients with persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in a 2-year follow-up. METHODS: Fifty-one consecutive patients (34 males, 65.7 ± 8 years) having undergone hybrid isolation of pulmonary veins (PVs) and posterior wall of left atrium (LA) by means of left unilateral hybrid thoracoscopic ablation for symptomatic persistent (n = 22, 43%) and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) (n = 29, 57%) were analyzed. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 24.9 ± 11.8 months (median 24), the success rate without antiarrhythmic therapy was achieved in 68.6% of patients. Procedure-related major complications were observed in 2 patients (4%) including diaphragmatic perforation and late pericardial tamponade requiring mini left-sided thoracotomy and pericardial drainage, respectively. The success rate did not significantly differ between persistent and long-standing persistent AF (respectively, 68.2 and 69%; P = 0.89). Patients with AF relapse during the blanking period were 3.8 times more likely to have AF recurrence after 3 months from the ablation procedure. CONCLUSION: The hybrid one-stage left unilateral thoracoscopic procedure exhibits encouraging results in the setting of both persistent and long-standing persistent AF after a 2-year follow-up, at a low rate of adverse events.

Electrophysiological findings in patients with isolated veins after cryoablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: The main cause of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation is pulmonary vein reconnection. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse the electophysiological findings in patients undergoing repeat procedures after an index cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) and presenting with permanency of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in all veins. In addition, we sought to compare the latter with a similar group of patients with reconnected veins at the redo procedure. METHODS: A total of 132 patients (81 men, 60.7 ±â€Š12.4 years) who underwent CB-A for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) were enrolled. Indication for the redo procedure was symptomatic PAF in 83 (63%), persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) in 32 (24%) or persistent regular atrial tachycardia (RAT) in 17 (13%) patients. RESULTS: Seventy-five (57%) patients presented a pulmonary vein reconnection (pulmonary vein group) during the redo procedure, whereas 57 (43%) had no pulmonary vein reconnection (non-pulmonary vein group). The non-pulmonary vein group exhibited significantly more non-pulmonary vein foci and atrial flutters than the pulmonary vein group after induction protocol (51 vs. 24%, P = 0.002 and 67 vs. 36%, P = 0.003, respectively). Twenty-two (29.3%) patients of the pulmonary vein group and 20 (35%) patients of the non-pulmonary vein group had atrial fibrillation/RAT recurrence after a mean follow-up of 12.5 ±â€Š8 months. The survival analysis demonstrated no statistical significance in recurrence between both groups (log rank P = 0.358). CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation/RAT recurrence in patients after CB-A with durable PVI is significantly associated with non-pulmonary vein foci and atrial flutters. No statistically different success rate regarding atrial fibrillation/RAT freedom was detected between the pulmonary vein and non-pulmonary vein groups after redoing RF-CA.

Ajmaline Testing and the Brugada Syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) diagnosis requires the presence of a typical type 1 ECG pattern. Owing to the spontaneous ECG variability, the real BrS prevalence in the general population remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of positive ajmaline challenge for BrS in a cohort of consecutive patients who underwent electrophysiological evaluation for different clinical reasons. All consecutive patients from 2008 to 2019 who underwent ajmaline testing were prospectively included. A total of 2,456 patients underwent ajmaline testing, 742 (30.2%) in the context of familial screening for BrS. In non-familial screening group (1,714) ajmaline testing resulted positive in 186 (10.9%). Indications for ajmaline testing were: suspicious BrS ECG in 23 cases (12.4%), palpitations in 27 (14.5%), syncope in 71 (38.2%), presyncope in 7 (3.8%), family history of sudden cardiac death in 18 (9.7%), documented ventricular arrhythmias in 12 (6.5%), unexplained cardiac arrest in 4 (2.2%), atrial fibrillation in 16 (8.5%), brady-arrhythmias in 1 (0.5%), and cerebrovascular accidents in 7 (3.7%). Compared with the overall population, ajmaline testing positive patients were younger (42.8 ± 15.5 vs 48.9 ± 20.4; p <0.001) and more frequently male (65.1% vs 56.3%; p = 0.023). Implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted in 84 patients (45.2%). During a median follow-up of 42.4 months, 12 appropriate shocks and 13 implantable cardioverter defibrillator related complications were reported. In conclusion, the BrS was diagnosed in an unexpected high proportion of patients that underwent ajmaline testing for a variety of cardiovascular symptoms. This can lead to an adequate counseling and clinical management in BrS patients.

Correction to: Two-year follow-up of one-stage left unilateral thoracoscopic epicardial and transcatheter endocardial ablation for persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.

Owing to a type error during final correction and proof data submission to the journal, there were mistakes introduced into the legends of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 as well as into the Y-axis title of the plot of Fig. 4.

Predictors of cardiac neuromodulation achieved by cryoballoon ablation performed in patients with atrial fibrillation who were in sinus rhythm before the ablation.

BACKGROUND: The impact of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) performed with cryoballoon (CB) on the intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system (ICANS) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors and the clinical meaning of cardiac neuromodulation achieved by CB-ablation as assessed by sinus heart rate (HR) response after the procedure. METHODS: Patients who underwent CB-ablation for drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) from January 2014 to October 2018 were included. Twelve­leads rest ECG was taken both before and after the procedure. After discharge, patients were scheduled for follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and 24 h Holter recordings were obtained at each follow-up visit. All documented AF episodes of >30 s were considered as recurrence. RESULTS: Four-hundred seventy-two patients (62.3% male, age 56.7 ± 13.6 years, 97.2% paroxysmal AF) were included. Mean HR before the procedure was 60.17 ± 10.4 bpm, while the morning after the procedure mean HR was 75.48 ± 12.0 bpm. Age at enrollment (R = -0.26; p < 0.001), baseline HR before the CB-A (R = -0.32; p < 0.001), nadir temperature in each right pulmonary vein (R = -0.11, p = 0.022; R = -0.16; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with the ∆HR. At 2-year follow-up, freedom from recurrences was 83.1% for the patients with HR increase ≥15 bpm after CB-A and 66.3% in patients with HR increase ˂15 bpm (p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Sinus HR increase is a frequent phenomenon after CB-A, that can be predicted by both clinical and procedural factors and that correlates with better outcome after cryo-PVI.

Conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm during cryoballoon ablation: A favorable and not unusual phenomenon during second-generation cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and the clinical impact of conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm (SR) during cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) are unknown. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of restoration of SR during CB-A and the clinical impact of this phenomenon. METHODS: Between January 2012 and September 2018, all patients who experienced conversion of AF to SR during CB-A were included. This group was subsequently matched for gender, age, type of AF, diagnosis-to-ablation time, and left atrial size with patients who underwent CB-A and did not experienced conversion of AF to SR. After discharge, patients were scheduled for follow-up visits at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and 24 hours Holter recordings were obtained at each follow-up visit. All documented AF episodes of >30 seconds were considered as recurrence. A 3 month post-procedural blanking period (BP) was applied. RESULTS: A total of 1559 patients underwent pulmonary veins isolation by CB-A between January 2012 and September 2018; among them, 58 patients (3.7%) experienced restoration of SR during CB-A. In total, 53 patients (41 males [77.3%], mean age 61.4 ± 13.3 years) were included in the case group. During CB-A, restoration of SR occurred more frequently during right-side PVs applications (right inferior pulmonary vein 39.6%, right superior pulmonary vein 30.2%). If considering a BP, at 2 year follow-up, freedom from recurrences was 86.5% in the case group and 68.0% in the control group (P = .036). CONCLUSION: Conversion of AF to SR is a favorable and relatively frequent phenomenon during cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation ablation.

Evaluation of the luminal esophageal temperature behavior during left atrium posterior wall ablation by means of second-generation cryoballoon.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to clarify the behavior of the luminal esophageal temperature (LET) in a cohort of patients undergoing second-generation cryoballoon (CB-A) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and additional left atrium posterior wall (LAPW) ablation by means of CB-A. METHODS: Thirty patients with symptomatic persistent AF (PersAF), having undergone PVI + LAPW cryoballoon ablation with LET monitoring. RESULTS: Interruption of the application due to a LET below 15 °C occurred in 5 patients (16.6%), 2 at the LIPV and 3 in the LAPW. The 5 patients underwent gastroscopy the day after ablation. In all individuals, esophageal thermal lesion (ETL) was absent. CONCLUSION: The evaluation of LET might be an additional tool in helping to prevent damage to the esophagus during the LAPW ablation with the CB-A by stopping the freeze application when temperature reaches values of < 15 °C.

Standardized Quantification of Vagal Denervation by Extracardiac Vagal Stimulation during Second Generation Cryoballoon ablation: a Vein per Vein Analysis.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution in the acute loss in vagal innervation after ablation with the second generation cryoballoon (CB-A) in each distinct pulmonary vein (PV) by means of external cardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS) by positioning a catheter in the internal jugular vein in a cohort of 60 patients. METHODS: Sixty patients, 50 starting from the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) and 10 from the right superior pulmonary vein with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), having undergone ECVS before the first and after each PV ablation by means of CB-A ablation, were included. RESULTS: The ECVS performed pre-ablation provoked cardioinhibitory responses in all cases with mean pause duration of 10251.83 ms ± 2826.23 ms. At the end of the procedure, the vagal reactions (VR) were significantly diminished. Specifically, compared against the initial pause, responses were 8957.06 ± 2711.66 ms (p < 0.01) after left superior PV, 10017.36 ± 9127.0 ms (p = 0.88) after left inferior PV, 6020.16 ± 3780.709 ms (p < 0.001) after right inferior PV and 1687.5 ± 2183.7 ms (p < 0.001) after right superior PV. Noteworthy, if starting with ablation in the RSPV, VR was immediately reduced by 90.34%, 990.7 ± 379.78 ms (p < 0.001) as compared to baseline response. CONCLUSION: Although not directly targeting the ganglion plexuses, AF ablation with the CB-A causes a significant acute loss in parasympathetic innervation. The RSPV showed to be associated with the most significant reduction of acute loss in parasympathetic innervation.