What is cryoballoon ablation?

Cryoballoon ablation is a form of catheter ablation which uses cryo, or freezing, energy rather than heat to precisely disable heart tissue that causes irregular heartbeats.

Is cryoballoon ablation safe?

The cryoballoon is a safe, effective, and efficient medical device for treating AFib. Nearly one million patients in over 80 countries worldwide have been treated with Medtronic cryoablation devices.

How long after an ablation can you return to work?

“If they’re feeling well and if their work isn’t too strenuous, I tell most patients that it’s okay to go back to work 3 to 4 days after their ablation,” Dr. Arkles says. For strenuous jobs like nursing or law enforcement, he recommends a two-week wait.

How long does it take to recover from AFib ablation?

You’ll spend a day or two in intensive care, and you may be in the hospital for up to a week. At first, you’ll feel very tired and have some chest pain. You can probably go back to work in about 3 months, but it may take 6 months to get back to normal.

How long does it take to recover from AFIB ablation?

How many heart ablations can a person have?

It is very reasonable to do two ablations; half of all people will have two. In the ideal candidate, a younger person who is highly symptomatic and a highly motivated person, a third ablation is not unreasonable. It should be an infinitesimal number of people in whom you go beyond three ablations.

Are bananas good for AFIB?

Fresh fruit provides lots of nutrients; bananas especially may be beneficial in managing afib due to their high potassium levels. Low potassium levels may increase your risk of arrhythmia, so instead of going for the packaged fruit cups with loads of extra sugars, stick to fresh fruit.

How long does it take for heart to heal after ablation?

The ablated (or destroyed) areas of tissue inside your heart may take up to eight weeks to heal. You may still have arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) during the first few weeks after your ablation. During this time, you may need anti-arrhythmic medications or other treatment.

Is there a difference between cryoballoon and radiofrequency ablation?

Conclusions. In this randomized trial, cryoballoon ablation was noninferior to radiofrequency ablation with respect to efficacy for the treatment of patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and there was no significant difference between the two methods with regard to overall safety.

How is cryoballoon used to treat atrial fibrillation?

Cryoablation for atrial fibrillation requires more extensive fluoroscopic guidance to position the balloon catheter at the pulmonary veins. The cryoballoon was developed to create a circular lesion around each pulmonary vein in a relatively simple manner.

How is radiofrequency ablation used to treat atrial fibrillation?

Current guidelines recommend pulmonary-vein isolation by means of catheter ablation as treatment for drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Radiofrequency ablation is the most common method, and cryoballoon ablation is the second most frequently used technology.

What is the noninferiority margin for cryoballoon?

The noninferiority margin was prespecified as a hazard ratio of 1.43. The primary safety end point was a composite of death, cerebrovascular events, or serious treatment-related adverse events. A total of 762 patients underwent randomization (378 assigned to cryoballoon ablation and 384 assigned to radiofrequency ablation).