Abstract

The present review will discuss the technical aspects of a new patent invented in 1999 which allows cryoballoon ablation, an emerging technology used for the non pharmacological treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. A general evaluation of the safety and the reliability of the technique will be given together with an overview on its short and midterm outcome. Finally future directions of the technology and its possible implementation will be briefly treated.

Keywords: Cryoballoon ablation, atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency ablation, Pulmonary vein, PV stenosis, thrombo-embolism, pericardial tamponade, atrio-oesopha-geal fistula, left atrial tachycardias, CRYOBALLOON CATHETER, Arctic Front®, FlexCath®, CryoConsole®, Joule-Thompson effect, hockey stick technique, pull-down technique, big loop, PV ostium, phrenic nerve palsy, intravenous boluses of adenosine, RF point, atrial tachycardia, LAA-LSPV ridge, Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, American College of Cardiology 2010, Medtronic Arctic Front Cardiac CryoAblation Catheter System, anti-arrhythmic drugs, Cryoablation Procedure Events, Major Atrial Fibrillation Events, coronary artery disease, arterial hyper-tension, FAST-PVI