1. Repeat cryoablation as a redo procedure for atrial fibrillation ablation: Is it a good choice?
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Carlos Antonio Álvarez-Ortega, César Rainer Solórzano Guillén, Alberto Barrera Cordero, Jorge Enrique Toquero Ramos, Jesús Daniel Martínez-Alday, Carlos Eugenio Grande Morales, Aníbal Rodríguez González, Arcadio García Alberola, Luisa Pérez Álvarez, Ángel Ferrero de Loma Osorio, Julio Salvador Hernández Afonso, Rocío Cózar León, Óscar Cano Pérez, Emilce Trucco, and Rafael Peinado Peinado
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Physiology (medical) ,General Medicine ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine - Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Medtronic Inc. Introduction Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, both cryoablation and radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation, have demonstrated to be safe and effective techniques for treating symptomatic atrial fibrillation as a first procedure. However, about one in three patients may face a redo procedure due to AF recurrence. The most suitable technique for redo is unknown. Purpose The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of cryoballoon AF ablation as a redo technique in patients with prior cryoballoon or radiofrequency AF ablation. Methods We analyzed a nation-wide real-world cryoablation registry (RECABA) and compared patients who were referred for a first cryoballoon AF ablation procedure with those who had previously undergone cryoballoon or radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation. The primary endpoint was AF recurrence during the first year after a 3-month blanking period. We performed survival analysis and built univariate and multivariate cox regression models. Results From 1742 patients, 1625 had a 12-month follow-up visit. 1551 (95.45%) underwent a first cryoballoon ablation, whereas 33 (2.03%) had a previous CB ablation performed and 41 (2.52%) a previous RF ablation. Mean age was 58.6 ±10.4 years and 511 (31.5%) were women. 463 (28.5%) had persistent atrial fibrillation and there were no major clinical differences between groups. Prior-CB group had a higher share of veins without electrogram visualization, with a median of 100% (IQR 75%-100%), compared to prior-RF group (median 67%, IQR 25%-75%) and first procedure group (median 25%, IQR 0%-50%). Kruskal-Wallis test Chi2=54.35, p 12-month Kaplan–Meier estimate of freedom from AF recurrence after the blanking period was 78.5% (95% CI 76.2% - 80.7%) in the first procedure group, 61.0% (95% CI 41.4% - 75.8%) in the prior-CB and 89.2% (95% CI 73.6% - 95.9%) in the prior-RF group. Log-rank test Chi2=17.49, p Multivariate cox regression analysis pointed female sex, persistent AF, and prior-CB ablation as independent predictors of AF recurrence. The adjusted HR for AF recurrence of prior-CB ablation vs first-CB ablation was 3.13 (95% CI 1.82 -5.40) and for prior-RF vs first CB-ablation was 1.01 (95% CI 0.51 – 1.97). Conclusion Repeat cryoballoon AF ablation shows higher rates of AF recurrences compared to first CB procedures or after prior RF ablation. These data suggest that patients with AF recurrence after CB-ablation have worse arrhythmic outcomes and may benefit from other ablation techniques after a recurrence.
- Published
- 2022
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