AIMS: To determine the efficacy and safety of cryoablation for the treatment of atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the procedural characteristics, acute success, and recurrence rates of 160 consecutive patients treated with cryoablation for the AVNRT and followed up for 18 months. Mean procedural time was 119.1 +/- 3.7 min, with an average of 4.6 +/- 0.2 Cryo lesions and an acute procedural success rate of 93%. Recurrence rates were 19 (11.9%) cases and were significantly higher in the 4 mm cryocatheter-treated group (12/59, 16.9%), compared with the 6 mm cryocatheter-treated group (9/101, 6.9%, P = 0.01). Recurrence rates were greater where slow pathway block was not achieved 8/12 (66.7%), compared with complete slow pathway block 11/129 (8.5%, P < 0.0001). Recurrence was significantly more likely if atrial echo beats were still present after cryoablation, 12/130 (9.2%) patients with no recurrence vs. 7/19 (36.8%) patients with recurrence (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Cryoablation is a safe and efficacious treatment for AVNRT. Complete slow pathway block is associated with long-term success, together with the use of the larger 6 mm cryocatheter. There is always a risk of heart block with radiofrequency ablation, although this experience confirms previous findings that the risk with Cryo is zero.
AIMS: To determine the efficacy and safety of cryoablation for the treatment of atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT). METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the procedural characteristics, acute success, and recurrence rates of 160 consecutive patients treated with cryoablation for the AVNRT and followed up for 18 months. Mean procedural time was 119.1 +/- 3.7 min, with an average of 4.6 +/- 0.2 Cryo lesions and an acute procedural success rate of 93%. Recurrence rates were 19 (11.9%) cases and were significantly higher in the 4 mm cryocatheter-treated group (12/59, 16.9%), compared with the 6 mm cryocatheter-treated group (9/101, 6.9%, P = 0.01). Recurrence rates were greater where slow pathway block was not achieved 8/12 (66.7%), compared with complete slow pathway block 11/129 (8.5%, P < 0.0001). Recurrence was significantly more likely if atrial echo beats were still present after cryoablation, 12/130 (9.2%) patients with no recurrence vs. 7/19 (36.8%) patients with recurrence (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Cryoablation is a safe and efficacious treatment for AVNRT. Complete slow pathway block is associated with long-term success, together with the use of the larger 6 mm cryocatheter. There is always a risk of heart block with radiofrequency ablation, although this experience confirms previous findings that the risk with Cryo is zero.
Authors: Srikant Das; Ian H Law; Nicholas H Von Bergen; David J Bradley; Macdonald Dick; Susan P Etheridge; Elizabeth V Saarel; Patricio A Frias; Margaret J Strieper; Peter S Fischbach Journal: Pediatr Cardiol Date: 2012-03-20 Impact factor: 1.655
Authors: Nikhil K Chanani; Nancy A Chiesa; Anne M Dubin; Kishor Avasarala; George F Van Hare; Kathryn K Collins Journal: Pacing Clin Electrophysiol Date: 2008-09 Impact factor: 1.976
Authors: Vaibhav K Moondra; Mark L Greenberg; Barbara R Gerling; Peter T Holzberger; Steven N Weindling; Rajbir S Sangha Journal: Indian Pacing Electrophysiol J Date: 2017-01-06