Clinical outcome of 2nd generation cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in patients over 75 years of age.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation is an established therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Despite the fact that incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, patients over 75 years of age have been excluded in all major atrial fibrillation ablation trials. Pulmonary vein isolation with the cryoballoon has been shown to be equally effective compared to irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation, but patients over 75 years have also been excluded.

Increased rate of observed real-time pulmonary vein isolation with third-generation short-tip cryoballoon.

Purpose: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with the cryoballoon is an established treatment for symptomatic atrial fibrillation. The second-generation cryoballoon increased efficacy in comparison to the first-generation cryoballoon. The third-generation cryoballoon was designed with a shorter distal tip to facilitate real-time recording of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation.