@article{3123862,
    title = "Cryoablation for atrial fibrillation and antiarrhythmic drug pretreatment: A single referral center experience",
    author = "Spartalis, M. and Tzatzaki, E. and Spartalis, E. and Moris, D. and Doulamis, I. and Triantafyllis, A.S. and Livanis, E. and Theodorakis, G.",
    journal = "European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences",
    year = "2018",
    volume = "22",
    number = "7",
    pages = "2088-2092",
    publisher = "Verduci Editore s.r.l",
    issn = "1128-3602, 2284-0729",
    doi = "10.26355/eurrev-201804-14741",
    keywords = "amiodarone;  rivaroxaban;  antiarrhythmic agent, adult;  Article;  bleeding;  controlled study;  cryoablation;  female;  follow up;  human;  major clinical study;  male;  paroxysmal atrial fibrillation;  persistent atrial fibrillation;  postoperative hemorrhage;  postoperative period;  pulmonary vein isolation;  radiofrequency ablation;  retrospective study;  atrial fibrillation;  catheter ablation;  cryosurgery;  middle aged;  patient referral;  procedures;  pulmonary vein;  treatment outcome, Adult;  Anti-Arrhythmia Agents;  Atrial Fibrillation;  Catheter Ablation;  Cryosurgery;  Female;  Follow-Up Studies;  Humans;  Male;  Middle Aged;  Pulmonary Veins;  Referral and Consultation;  Retrospective Studies;  Treatment Outcome",
    abstract = "OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation has emerged as the gold standard of ablative strategies to treat medically refractory paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Regardless of the superiority of catheter ablation based on PVI over antiarrhythmic drug therapy, recurrence rates of AF remain higher than desired. PVI via cryoablation has rapidly become a mainstream treatment for AF, due to its effectiveness and fast learning curve. Our objective was to assess the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in a single referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective analysis of results after cryoablation treatment of AF over three years. 146 patients with AF underwent a cryoablation procedure in our clinical center and were followed-up for three years after the procedure. All patients received cryoablation of the pulmonary veins, although concomitant procedures were performed in 6 patients (re-ablation), including radiofrequency and cryoablation. RESULTS: Cryoablation was clinically successful in 90.83% of the patients with paroxysmal AF and 60% of those with persistent AF. The clinical success of cryoablation was correlated with pretreatment with amiodarone and in the case of re-ablation. Concerning postoperative complications, major bleeding was correlated with female gender, treatment with rivaroxaban and amiodarone. CONCLUSIONS: Among large trials, freedom from recurrent AF is about 65% with follow-up limited to 1 to 2 years. PVI via balloon cryoablation is a safe and efficient guideline-based treatment for AF, producing a durable event-free result in most patients out to 3 years with better outcomes than previously reported. © 2018 Verduci Editore. All rights reserved."
}