Cryoballoon ablation without use of contrast for the treatment of
paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Abstract
Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is a
well-established method for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).
As a rule, cryoenergy delivery is preceded by demonstrating full
pulmonary vein (PV) occlusion by injecting contrast. Research on CBA
without the use of contrast is sparse. The aim of the study was to
determine efficacy and safety of a simplified protocol for CBA performed
without demonstrating PV occlusion by venography and compare achieved
results with those observed in patients undergoing conventional CBA.
Methods This was a dual-centre, prospective, nonrandomized
study (NCT04344743). The study cohort consisted of consecutive patients
with paroxysmal AF, with 4 separate pulmonary veins (PVs), undergoing a
first-time CBA. All ablations were performed using a 28-mm cryoballoon
catheter (Arctic Front Advance, Medtronic). In the non-contrast (NC)
group CBA was performed using standardized protocol without
demonstrating PV occlusion by venography prior cryoapplication. In the
case of PV isolation failure after a total of 5 minutes of cryoenergy
delivery further attempts to isolate the vein were preceded by
venography. A similar protocol was used in the conventional contrast
(CC) group, where ablations were performed after confirmation of
complete vein occlusion by venography. In both groups PVI was confirmed
by demonstrating entrance and exit block using a diagnostic circular
catheter (Achieve, Medtronic). Results The NC and CC groups
comprised 51 and 22 patients, respectively. There were no differences
between the NC and CC groups regarding baseline demographic, clinical
and echocardiographic data. In the NC group 184 (90%) out of 204 veins
were isolated without previous venography. Isolation of all 4 PVs
without venography was possible in 34 (67%) patients. There were no
differences between the NC and CC groups in terms of procedure duration
(89.7 ± 22.6 vs. 90.0 ± 20.6 min; p=0.7) , left atrium dwelling time
(71.2 ±21.3 vs 69.9 ± 19.1 min; p=0.8), fluoroscopy time (15.3 ± 6.3 vs.
15 ± 4.5 min; p=0.8) and radiation dose exposure (815 ± 594 vs. 945 ±
529 cGy*cm 2). In the NC group, the use of contrast
was significantly lower compared to the CC group (4.9 ± 10.1 vs. 19.4 ±
8.6 ml, p<0.001). The time to isolation and the minimum
temperature achieved were comparable between the NC and CC groups. There
were no serious adverse events in both groups. A one year freedom from
AF was achieved in 73.5% and 71.5% of patients from the NC group the
CC group, respectively (p=1). Conclusions Cryoballoon ablation
without demonstrating vein occlusion with contrast is feasible, safe and
enables isolation of the vast majority of pulmonary veins. The acute and
one-year results for non-contrast cryoballoon ablation are comparable to
those obtained using the conventional protocol with contrast.