Inclusion and exclusion criteria
From October 2018 to September 2020, a cryoballoon PVI was performed in patients with drug refractory AF. All patients received sedation and a subsequent ASV treatment was applied during the procedure. Consecutive patients undergoing a cryoballoon PVI with ASV support under sedation were enrolled in this study. The LAPs before and after the ASV support were sequentially evaluated in all these patients.
Exclusion criteria were severe valvular disease, hemodialysis, severe coronary artery disease, a LA diameter > 55mm, and the existence of a thrombus in the LA.
Written informed consent was obtained from all patients. This study protocol was approved by the institutional review board of our institute and conformed to the ethical guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki.