Cryogenic balloon catheter ablation

No, but I am also considering an ablation soon and have started consults with several EP's and also patients. One close friend of mine recommended his EP very highly and claimed "perfect" results from a cryo-ablation now several years ago. While it appears that the cryo method is far less common than RF for cardiac ablations, I have been unable so far to find any hard data on outcomes and only one patient who had one as noted. The EP who performs them here in RI is well thought of generally and busy though. Like most surgical procedures, it appears that your choice of EP/Surgeon is the critical variable. The book "AFIB Cure" by John Day MD has a whole chapter on questions you should pose to your prospective EP and much insight on how to select one.

Just had my second cryo-ablation two days ago-- First was performed in January 2022 which is apparently successful (pulmonary veins). Second was required for Atrial Flutter in the right atrium but while in there mapped the heart and found two other areas in the left that he did also. Was as outpatient - procedure was about three hours with recovery about the same and all is well at this time. IN at 11:30 (1 hour of prep) 12:30 surgery and home by 6:30.

No, but I am also considering an ablation soon and have started consults with several EP's and also patients. One close friend of mine recommended his EP very highly and claimed "perfect" results from a cryo-ablation now several years ago. While it appears that the cryo method is far less common than RF for cardiac ablations, I have been unable so far to find any hard data on outcomes and only one patient who had one as noted. The EP who performs them here in RI is well thought of generally and busy though. Like most surgical procedures, it appears that your choice of EP/Surgeon is the critical variable. The book "AFIB Cure" by John Day MD has a whole chapter on questions you should pose to your prospective EP and much insight on how to select one.

Ted, here's a 2021 trial with 203 patients.
- Cryoballoon Ablation as Initial Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029554

Excerpt:
"In this randomized, multicenter trial, the initial use of cryoballoon ablation was superior to drug therapy for the prevention of atrial arrhythmia recurrence, with 75% of patients in the cryoballoon group and 45% of patients in the drug-therapy group having treatment success at 12 months."

@tct, did you see @warbru's helpful post? What questions do you have about cryoballoon ablation?

Just had my second cryo-ablation two days ago-- First was performed in January 2022 which is apparently successful (pulmonary veins). Second was required for Atrial Flutter in the right atrium but while in there mapped the heart and found two other areas in the left that he did also. Was as outpatient - procedure was about three hours with recovery about the same and all is well at this time. IN at 11:30 (1 hour of prep) 12:30 surgery and home by 6:30.

Ted, here's a 2021 trial with 203 patients.
- Cryoballoon Ablation as Initial Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2029554

Excerpt:
"In this randomized, multicenter trial, the initial use of cryoballoon ablation was superior to drug therapy for the prevention of atrial arrhythmia recurrence, with 75% of patients in the cryoballoon group and 45% of patients in the drug-therapy group having treatment success at 12 months."

@tct, did you see @warbru's helpful post? What questions do you have about cryoballoon ablation?

That was great, thanks. Any other factors that may have weighed on your decision to go the Cryo route would be interesting. Was it simply the way your EP was most comfortable doing it?

still have to take metoprolol and Eliquis afterwards?

That was great, thanks. Any other factors that may have weighed on your decision to go the Cryo route would be interesting. Was it simply the way your EP was most comfortable doing it?