← Return to Cryogenic balloon catheter ablation

Discussion

Cryogenic balloon catheter ablation

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Sep 17, 2022 | Replies (13)
Comment receiving replies
@colleenyoung

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?

Jump to this post

Replies to "Ted, here's a 2021 trial with 203 patients. - Cryoballoon Ablation as Initial Therapy for Atrial..."
tct | @tct | Sep 15, 2022

Mostly, just curious as to others experience with this procedure. For instance did they need a repeat ablation?; were they able to stop medication?; did it stop PVC’s and SVT’s?

VIEW AND REPLY
Edward (Ted) Almon | @tedalmon | Sep 16, 2022

Colleen, thank you for the link to the study on cryoballoon ablation v. anti-arrhythmic drug therapy. It confirms the strong recommendations in "AFIB Cure" about having the procedure done earlier. I was first diagnosed with AFIB following/during hip replacement surgery now seven years ago, and while paroxysmal, it has become much more frequent and bothersome recently as records of my testing at Mayo-Jacksonville attest.

I have an appointment on November 10 with Melinda Barber APRN and I intend to make my case for having an ablation ASAP. I have not consulted directly with any EP at Mayo yet and I am concerned about the method they employ and their experience and outcomes with the procedure. It is quite plain to me that I should have considered this treatment sooner in the condition, but it was never recommended by my cardiologist, probably due to now outdated protocols suggesting drug treatment first, or technology advances in the safety and efficacy of the procedure. I'm ready now.

VIEW AND REPLY