title: Catheter ablation of peri-nodal and pulmonary veno-atrial substrates: should it be cool?
abstract: Catheter cryoablation (CRYO) is an alternative approach to radiofrequency (RF) ablation in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. The favourable lesion characteristics of CRYO and its unique properties of cryomapping and cryoadhesion make this newer approach especially suitable for the treatment of peri-nodal substrates, such as atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia and septal accessory pathway, and pulmonary veno-atrial substrate in atrial fibrillation. This review aims to present and discuss the data on the use of catheter CRYO for these substrates with special emphasis on its efficacy and safety compared with RF ablation.
authors: Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, 2-10 Princess Margaret Hospital Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong ngaiyinchan@yahoo.com.hk.
authors: Ngai-yin
authors: NY
authors: Chan
mesh_terms: D058606:Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle / Q000601:surgery*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D013611:Tachycardia, Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia; Catheter cryoablation; Cryoballoon; Septal accessory pathways