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Review
. 2018 Feb;48(2):114-123.
doi: 10.4070/kcj.2017.0318.

Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: a Comprehensive Review and Practice Guide

Eun Sun Jin  1 , Paul J Wang  2
Affiliations
Review

Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: a Comprehensive Review and Practice Guide

Eun Sun Jin et al. Korean Circ J. 2018 Feb.

Abstract

The cryoballoon was invented to achieve circumferential pulmonary vein isolation more efficiently to compliment the shortcomings of point-by-point ablation by radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Its efficacy and safety were shown to be comparable to those of RFA, and the clinical outcomes have improved with the second-generation cryoballoon. The basic biophysics, implemental techniques, procedural recommendations, clinical outcomes, and complications of the cryoballoon are presented in this practical and systematic review.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Cryosurgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Compared to the first-generation cryoballoon (A), the second-generation cryoballoon has homogeneous cooling system in distal hemisphere (B) (Courtesy; Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias. (A) The second-generation cryoballoon (CB-2) vs. radiofrequency (RF) ablation. (B) CB-2 vs. force-sensing RF catheter ablation (CF-RF). CI = confidence interval.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of procedure time and fluoroscopy time between the second-generation cryoballoon (CB-2) vs. radiofrequency (RF) ablation group. (A) Procedure time. (B) Fluoroscopy time. SD = standard deviation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Complications. (A) Transient phrenic nerve injury. (B) Other serious complications.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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