High rate of persistent iatrogenic atrial septal defect after single transseptal puncture for cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

Purpose: Congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) is associated with increased morbidity, whereas little is known about the rate of spontaneous closure, associated clinical and echocardiographic parameters, or complications of iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) beyond 1 year of follow-up. Persistent iASD after transseptal puncture for PVI has been described in up to 38% of small cohorts of patients in short-term follow-up after transseptal puncture. We sought to investigate the course of iASD after single transseptal puncture for first pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with cryoballoon, along with possible risk factors for persistent iASD.

Outcome in patients with left common pulmonary vein after cryoablation with second-generation cryoballoon.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has become a widely accepted therapy in patients suffering from symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF).

Hypothesis: AF-free survival differs in patients with left common pulmonary vein (LCPV) after PVI with second-generation cryoballoon.

Methods: We included patients scheduled for first PVI for paroxysmal or persistent AF.