title: Incidence of real-time recordings of pulmonary vein potentials using the third-generation short-tip cryoballoon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The third-generation Cryoballoon Advance Short-tip (CB-ST) has been designed with a 40% shortened tip length compared with the former second-generation CB Advance device. Ideally, a shorter tip should permit an improved visualization of real-time (RT) recordings in the pulmonary vein (PV) due to a more proximal positioning of the inner lumen mapping catheter. In the present study, we sought to analyse the rate of visualization of RT recordings in our first series of patients with the CB-ST device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All consecutive patients having undergone CB ablation using CB-ST technology were analysed. Exclusion criteria were the presence of an intracavitary thrombus, uncontrolled heart failure, moderate or severe valvular disease, and contraindications to general anaesthesia. A total of 60 consecutive patients (60.5 ± 11.2 years, 62% males) were evaluated. Real-time recordings were detected in 209 of 240 PVs (87.1%). Specifically, RT recordings could be visualized in 55 left superior PVs (91.7%), 51 left inferior PVs (85.0%), 53 right superior PVs (88.3%), and 50 right inferior PVs (83.3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of visualization of RT recordings is significantly high during third-generation CB-ST ablation. Real-time recordings can be visualized in ∼87.1% of veins with this novel cryoballoon.
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium gbchier@yahoo.it.
authors: Gian-Battista
authors: GB
authors: Chierchia
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Mugnai
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Erwin
authors: E
authors: Ströker
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Vedran
authors: V
authors: Velagic
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Burak
authors: B
authors: Hünük
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Darragh
authors: D
authors: Moran
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Ebru
authors: E
authors: Hacioglu
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, UZ Brussel-VUB, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Poelaert
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, UZ Brussel-VUB, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Verborgh
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, UZ Brussel-VUB, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Umbrain
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, UZ Brussel-VUB, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Beckers
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Diego
authors: D
authors: Ruggiero
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Brugada
authors: Heart Rhythm Management Center, UZ Brussel-VUB, Laarbeeklaan 101, 1090 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: de Asmundis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D001530:Belgium; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003199:Computer Systems; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Cryoballoon; Pulmonary vein isolation; Short tip