title: Long-Term Evolution of Patients Treated for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation with First and Second Generation Cryoballoon Catheter Ablation with a Prospective Protocol Guided by Complete Bidirectional Left Atrium-Pulmonary Veins Disconnection after Adenosine as Main Target end Point to achieved. Seven Years Follow-up of Patients with a rough estimation profile of Low ALARMEc Score. A Single Center Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cryoballoon ablation (CB) has proven effective for treating patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). We analyzed our seven year follow-up of patients, treated for PAF with first (CB1) and second generation (CB2), with demonstration of LA-PV disconnection with bidirectional block (BB) after adenosine (AD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Since November 2008 to May 2015, 128 patients, 97 male (58±7 years), without heart disease, highly symptomatic, refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) were treated, and follow-up (1411 ±727 days). Left atrial size: 37±6 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 439 PV were successfully isolated (91.9%). Acute reconduction: 44 PV (9%): 16 after CB; 16 unmasked by AD; 12 extrapulmonary muscular connections (EMC). Main complication was phrenic nerve palsy (PNP): 9 (7 %). On follow-up, 114 patients (89%) remain asymptomatic in sinus rhythm (SR), free of medication. Fourteen patients (11%) had arrhythmia recurrence: 12 male (52±8 years). Early recurrences occurred in 9 male. Late recurrences presented 3 male at 24, 27 and 60 months, and 2 female at 7 and 40 months respectively. All recurrence patients were Redo, and remain in SR without medication during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CB alone is very effective and safe for the definitive treatment of patients suffering PAF with 72.6% success rate, increasing up to 89.1% when this protocol is applied in a single procedure. After Redo, all population group (100%), remain in sinus rhythm, freedom of arrhythmia, without AAD, in this very long term follow-up. Checking for BB, AD protocol, and ruling out EMC allowed-us to identified 14.8% of patients with underlying substrate for potential arrhythmia recurrence. CB2 applications entail a highest risk of PNP. Patients with a rough estimated profile of low ALARMEc score (≤ 1) have an excellent long term outcome, being this series the largest follow-up described so far, for patients treated for PAF with CB.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Jesus M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Paylos
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Aracelis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azcona
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paradela
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yagüe
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gómez-Guijarro
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lacal
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Clara Ferrero
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, Arrhythmia Unit and Atrial Fibrillation Center.
authors.forename: Octavio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
keywords: Ablation; Cryoballoon; Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation