Cryoballoon dysfunction indicated by abrupt temperature drop during atrial fibrillation ablation

A 46-year-old male patient with symptomatic, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent cryoballoon ablation. During cryolesion delivery at the right inferior pulmonary vein, an abrupt and rapid temperature decline was noted from −42°C to −72°C within 7 s (Figure). Ablation was terminated, but retraction of the cryocatheter within the sheath was not feasible. The cryoballoon catheter and the sheath had to be retractedenbloc to the right atrium. Visual inspection demonstrated a kink in the shaft and inability to fully unwrap the balloon (Figure). The patient ’s in-hospital course remained uneventful.

Source: Europace - March 30, 2017 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research