Using the cryoballoon for posterior wall isolation: Thinking inside “the box”

Catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is becoming increasingly common, particularly as success rates improve. In this population, pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of therapy.1,2 However, in patients with persistent AF, the optimal lesion set has not been determined. While small studies have demonstrated that additional ablation beyond PVI is associated with decreased AF recurrence, randomized data have not corroborated this notion.3 –5 The combination of PVI and posterior wall isolation (PWI) is an attractive lesion set for a number of reasons.

Source: Heart Rhythm - July 27, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Travis Richardson, Gregory F. Michaud Tags: Editorial Commentary Source Type: research