title: [Pulmonary vein isolation with the cryoballoon technique in atrial fibrillation treatment: single centre experience].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation with cryothermal energy is a recently introduced technique in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). It may reduce procedural times and serious complications associated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation. We aimed to present the baseline characteristics and follow-up data of our study population undergoing cryoballoon AF ablation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 236 patients (126 male, 110 female; mean age 54.6±10.45; range 16 to 78 years) underwent PV isolation with 28 mm cryoballoon due to symptomatic AF. These patients failed with at least one previous antiarrhythmic drug. The postprocedure in the first 3 months was defined as blanking period. Median follow-up time was 14 (3-24) months. Procedural success, complicaitons, and follow-up results were defined according to Heart Rhythm Society guidelines.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Acute procedural success rate (>=3 PV isolation) was 99.5%. Mean procedural and fluoroscopy times were 72.5±5.3 (50-90) min and 14±3.5 (12-24) min. Major complications were observed in 3 patients (1.2%). At the median 14 month follow-up, 80.6% of paroxysmal AF patients and 49.2% of persistant AF patients were free from AF recurrence. RF ablation was performed in 10 patients with recurrence. Smoking, body mass index, non-paroxysmal AF type, AF duration (years), left atrial size, and early recurrence were the predictors of recurrence in multivariate regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study represents the first experience with cryoballoon ablation for AF in Turkey. The efficacy and safety of cryoballoon AF ablation technique was shown due to the acceptable success and low complication rates in paroxysmal AF patients. Particularly, patients with early recurrence should be closely followed-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oto
authors.forename: Kudret
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aytemir
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Canpolat
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Karakulak
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Evranos
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sahiner
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okutucu
authors.forename: Ergün Barış
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Lale
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tokgözoğlu
authors.forename: Giray
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kabakcı
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003452:Cryosurgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011667:Pulmonary Veins; D016896:Treatment Outcome