ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to report the long-term follow-up results of cryoballoon (CB) ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: All consecutive patients who underwent second-generation CB ablation from February 2015 to December 2017 were included in our study. In all procedures, we used a 28-mm CB placed via a single transseptal puncture guided by intracardiac ultrasound. A 20-mm octapolar intraluminal circular catheter was used for intracardiac recordings. A single 180-s freeze strategy was employed. Repeated procedures were performed with a 3D mapping system and radiofrequency catheters. RESULTS: A total of 126 patients (69.8% male, mean age 57 ± 11 years), of which 77.0% had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), were included in the study. After a 5-year period, 52.4% of patients were in sinus rhythm without AF recurrence, off antiarrhythmic drugs. A total of 61.9% of patients were free of AF recurrence when redo PVI procedures were performed. When accounting for redo pulmonary vein isolation and antiarrhythmic drugs, a total of 73.8% of the patients were without AF recurrence in long-term follow-up. The patients who underwent redo pulmonary vein isolation procedures had statistically significant lower rates of AF recurrence (p = 0.006). In patients with PAF, long-term success rates improved from 62.9 to 79.4% for patients who underwent the redo procedure (p = 0.020). In patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF), success rates went up from 41.4 to 55.1% for patients with single or repeated PVI procedure (p = 0.071). In the whole cohort, a total of 3 (2.4%) procedure-related major complications occurred which included persistent PNP, arterial pseudoaneurysm, and arteriovenous fistula. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a favorable long-term safety and efficacy profile of second-generation CB ablation. In the mixed paroxysmal and persistent population, up to 73.8% of patients remained free of AF recurrence in the 5-year follow-up, when accounting for redo procedures and AADs. Only 2.4% of patients experienced major complications of the ablation procedure, none with permanent sequelae.
ABSTRACT
AIM: To compare temperatures of the crestal bone during implant site preparation for different osteotomy lengths and implant systems. METHODS: Bovine ribs were used to simulate the cortical bone of the human mandible. Three different implant systems were tested: Astra Tech, Ankylos, and XiVE. Six drills per system were performed, meaning each drilling set was used for 2 drills per 3 osteotomy lengths (8, 12, and 16 mm). Drilling force, drilling speed, drilling length, and temperature were recorded. RESULTS: Differences in the maximum temperature of the crestal bone during the first drilling for various osteotomy lengths (P = 0.021) and all implant systems (P = 0.013) were observed. A similar result was showed during the second drilling; osteotomy lengths (P = 0.014) and drilling systems (P = 0.003). Second drillings showed lower temperatures of the crestal bone with statistical differences on all measurements (P < 0.001). Astra Tech and Ankylos implant systems showed similar performance; XiVE had lower temperature and higher temperature differences between osteotomy lengths. CONCLUSIONS: Different drilling lengths contributed to the variation in temperature regardless of the implant system. Longer drills and osteotomies induced higher temperatures on the crestal bone. The maximum temperature difference between the shortest and the longest osteotomy was under 1°C. Temperature above 47°C that could cause bone necrosis was not recorded at any time. The XiVE system showed the best performance.
