title: Individualized cryoballoon energy pulmonary vein isolation guided by real-time pulmonary vein recordings, the randomized ICE-T trial.
abstract: The ideal energy dosing remains unclear in second-generation cryoballoon (CB) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). We aimed to investigate the effect of an individualized dosing strategy based on time to PVI (TTI).
  
  
  
  The purpose of this study was to prospectively investigate the safety and efficacy of individualized PVI using the second-generation CB guided by real-time pulmonary vein recordings.
  
  
  
  Two groups were prospectively randomized: ICE-T group: if TTI <75 seconds, then no bonus freeze; and control group: acute PVI followed by 1 empiric bonus freeze. Freeze duration was set to 240 seconds. The primary end point was single procedure sinus rhythm after 12 months (blanking period 3 months). Secondary end points included procedural data, complications, and biomarker release.
  
  
  
  In total, 100 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were randomized. The primary end point was not different (88% vs 82%). Procedure and fluoroscopy times were significantly shorter in the ICE-T group (70 ± 20 minutes vs 89 ± 21 minutes; P < .001 and 10.6 ± 3.9 minutes vs 12.7 ± 5.5 minutes; P = .03). More complications occurred in the control group (n = 9 vs n = 3) (persistent phrenic nerve injury: n = 1 vs n = 0; transient phrenic nerve injury: n = 5 vs n = 2; esophageal lesions: n = 3 vs n = 1). Postablation troponin T levels were not different (ICE-T group vs control group: 1035 ± 402 ng/L vs 1219 ± 509 ng/L; P = .099), whereas a significantly lower lactic acid dehydrogenase release was observed in the ICE-T group (259 ± 47 U/L vs 282 ± 57 U/L; P = .038). Multivariate analysis identified a mean TTI of >43 seconds as the only independent predictor of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia.
  
  
  
  The individualized CB PVI strategy allows faster atrial fibrillation ablation without affecting the favorable clinical outcome. A short TTI appears to predict freedom from recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. Electronic address: j.chun@ccb.de.
authors.forename: K R Julian
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stich
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fürnkranz
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bordignon
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dugo
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bologna
authors.affiliation: CCB - Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik 3, Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Cryoballoon; Pulmonary vein isolation