title: Electrical Isolation of Pulmonary Veins Using Laser Catheter in the Treatment of Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. One-year Results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A new laser balloon that allows visualization of atrial tissue has recently been introduced for pulmonary vein electrical isolation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term safety and efficacy of this catheter in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser balloon ablation was performed in 71 patients with paroxysmal (80%) or persistent (20%) atrial fibrillation. Arrhythmia recurrence was defined as any episode lasting longer than 30 seconds. During follow-up, regular visits were performed every 3 months with 24- to 48-hour Holter tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isolation was possible in 275 of 278 (99%) of pulmonary veins. Mean procedure and fluoroscopy times were 154 ± 25 and 34 ± 15minutes, respectively. A total of 89% of veins were isolated during the first attempt. The most common complication was phrenic nerve paralysis (5.6%), which appeared in only the first 18 cases. A total of 59 patients received follow-up for a mean of 420 ± 193 days, with a rate of arrhythmia recurrence of 12% and 30%, respectively, in paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (P = .155).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The laser balloon is a safe and effective system for pulmonary vein electrical isolation. Its advantages include the capacity to adapt to pulmonary vein anatomy using a single catheter, the efficacy with which pulmonary vein electrical isolation is achieved, and the favorable mid-term clinical progress, even for patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: j_osca@ono.com.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osca
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrés
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cano
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sancho Tello
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olagüe
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martínez Dolz
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Arritmias, Servicio de Cardiología, Área del Corazón, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvador
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Ablación; Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Catéter láser; Fibrilación auricular; Laser catheter