Сhanges in the deformation of the pulmonary vein ostia after radiofrequency and cryoballoon ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Aim. To study changes in pulmonary vein ostia strain after radiofrequency (RFA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) by intracardiac echocardiography.Methods. Patients with paroxysmal AF (n=41) aged 60.1±7.1 years and duration of the disease 7.7±4.8 years were included in the study. Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation was performed with RFA (n=23) and CBA (n=18). All patients underwent transthoracic and intraoperative intracardiac echocardiography. Longitudinal strain of PV ostia was assessed before and after isolation.Results. Groups were comparable in main clinical parameters. Regress of PV ostia strain after RFA and CBA was achieved in all of PV, which corresponded to complete PV isolation. Remarked trend toward a more pronounced regression of PV ostia longitudinal strain after CBA compared with RFA for left superior (10±0.7% and 6.1±0.8% respectively, p<0.001) and right inferior PV (9.3±0.7% vs 7.3±0.6%, p<0.001) requires continued observation and analysis of data in a larger group. There were no complications.Conclusion. PV isolation is accompanied by a significant change in their longitudinal strain using intracardiac echocardiography both after CBA and after RFA.