title: [Cryoballon isolation of the pulmonary veins in atrial fibrillation: mid-term results after the first 55 patients].
abstract: Several transcatheter techniques based on radiofrequency energy were elaborated for the treatment of atrial fibrillation through the last decade. Recently, similar success rates with a better safety profile concerning life threatening complications were reported with the novel methode of cryoballon isolation of the pulmonary veins. This paper summarizes our initial experience with cryoballon ablation after the first 55 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  [corrected] Symptomatic patients refractory to aniarrhythmic medication mostly with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation without significant structural heart disease were enrolled. Cannulation and isolation of all pulmonary veins were attempted using a 28 mm double-wall cryoballon inflated at the ostium of the vein and abolishing eletrical activity of atrial tissue around its perimeter by freezing to -70 C. Intravenous heparin during and oral anticoagulant after the procedure was administered. Conventional ECGs, Holter ECGs and transtelephonic ECG recordings were used through 6 months follow-up for rhythm monitoring.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 55 patients enrolled (18 female; age: 56 + or - 33,64 years) 165 out ot 192 (86%) pulmonary veins were successfully isolated. All pulmonary veins were isolated in 37 patients (67%). Procedure time was 155.67 + or - 100.66 min, while fluoroscopy time was 34.04 + or - 31.89 min. In 34 patients with 6 months follow-up 24 (70%) either remained free of arrhythmia (17 patients) or had a significant decrease in arrhythmia burden (7 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our initial experience, cryoballon isolation of pulmonary veins appears to be a more simple procedure with similar efficacy to radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Debreceni Egyetem, Orvos- és Egészségügyi Centrum, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Kardiológiai Intézet, Debrecen Móricz Zs. krt. 22., 4032. tothzs2004@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Zsuzsanna
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tóth
authors.forename: Edina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagy-Baló
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kertész
authors.forename: Marcell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herczku
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tint
authors.forename: Csaba
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kun
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Edes
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Csanádi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome