title: Repeat ablation and hospitalization following cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation at a single tertiary medical center.
abstract: Cryoablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has rapidly become a mainstream treatment for AF. In this report, 163 patients who had undergone a cryoablation procedure at one clinical center were contacted by telephone 33.1 ± 3.3 months after the procedure. All patients had received cryoablation of the pulmonary vein ostia, although concomitant procedures were performed at the same time in over 50% of the patients, including radiofrequency and/or cryoablation of other areas of the left atrium. Freedom from a repeat ablation procedure was 87%, while freedom from recurrent hospitalization for AF was 89%, as compared to previous reports of 65%. Of the 13 patients who had a repeat ablation procedure, only one was found to have a reconnection of pulmonary veins, while 4 were found to have atrial flutter. Cryoablation for AF produces a durable result in most patients out to 3 years with better outcomes than previously reported.
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: East
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phan
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filardo
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donsky
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Wheelan
authors.affiliation: Baylor Soltero Cardiovascular Research Center (East), Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital (East, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), and Baylor Scott & White Health Care System (East, Phan, Filardo, Franklin, Donsky, Wheelan, Kowal), Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kowal