Key Points • The regional anatomy of the superior vena cava is an important arrhythmogenic substrate for various arrhythmias. • Cryoablation has unique attributes to prevent collateral damage when ablating…
Key Points • The best candidate for cryosurgery is a patient with refractory drug-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) from a left anterior aneurysm more than 2 months after a myocardial infarction,…
Key Points • Large myocardial lesions can be created in the right and left ventricles in animal models with use of nitrous oxide–powered catheters. • A 8-mm tip electrode on…
Key Points • Atrial fibrillation increases the risk for stroke and death. • Surgical endocardial cryoablation is considered to be safe, effective, and useful in eliminating atrial fibrillation in patients…
Key Points • Cryoballoon ablation is an accepted alternative strategy for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. • Cryoballoon technique is an anatomic-guided ablation approach. • Cryoballoon ablation for PV isolation is…
Key Points • Cryoablation has advantages because of the unique properties of lesion formation in small, immature hearts. • Radiofrequency ablation may have a small chance of a complication that…
Key Points • Atrial flutter (AFL) is the second most common arrhythmia seen in clinical practice. • The direct medical costs because of pharmacologic therapy, cardioversion, and hospitalization may be…
Key Points • Irreversible damage to myocardial cells can occur at temperatures as low as −5 to −10°C. • Lethal temperatures are reached within 60 seconds within 3-mm depth and…
Key Points • The initial promise for the development of cryoablation is to minimize the energy-dependent complications of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. • Cryoablation reduces tissue fibrosis and modifies the…
Key Points • Cryolesions are smaller and show less thrombus than radiofrequency (RF) lesions when a similar tip size is used. • Cryomapping is possible only at −30°C; deeper temperatures…
