Cool enough?

Abstract

$\bf Introduction$ Cryoballoon (CB)-guided ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is established in symptomatic AF patients. This study sought to determine the safety and efficacy of CB pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in young adults. $\textbf {Methods and Results}$ A total of 93 consecutive patients aged 30 s following a 3-month blanking period. A propensity matched control group consisting of patients older than 45 years were used for further evaluation. Mean age was 35 $\pm$ 7 years, 22% suffered from persistent AF, 85% were male. Mean follow-up was 2.6 $\pm$ 2 years. At the end of the observational period, 83% of patients were free of any AF/AT episodes. There was an excellent overall 12-month success rate of 92%. In comparison to a matched group the overall recurrence rate was noticeably lower in the young group (15% vs. 27%). Increasing age was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.16 for recurrence. In a multivariate analysis model, left atrial diameter remained as significant predictor of AF/AT recurrence. The complication rate was low, no permanent phrenic nerve palsy was observed. $\bf Conclusion$ CB-guided PVI in young adults is safe and effective with favorable long-term results. It may be considered as first-line therapy in this relatively healthy population