Title

Reduced esophageal cooling with left atrial roof and posterior wall cryoablation

Authors

Dhruv Chawla, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Lynn Erickson, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Mohamed Djelmami-Hani, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Imran Niazi, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Chawla D, Erickson L, Djelmami-Hani M, Niazi I. Reduced esophageal cooling with left atrial roof and posterior wall cryoablation. Poster presented at: Aurora Scientific Day; May 22, 2019; Milwaukee, WI.

Affiliations

Aurora Cardiovascular Services; Aurora Research Institute

Presentation Notes

Poster presented at: Aurora Scientific Day; May 22, 2019; Milwaukee, WI.

Abstract

Background: Thermal esophageal injury is a rare but devastating complication of pulmonary vein isolation using radiofrequency energy or cryoablation (CRYO) and also radiofrequency ablation of posterior wall (PW). Risk of esophageal injury with PW and roof CRYO is unknown. Since PW and roof CRYO has recently been advocated, we studied minimum esophageal temperature (MET) to assess safety of PW and roof CRYO.

Purpose: To assess safety of PW and roof CRYO for atrial fibrillation.

Methods: CRYO was performed in 16 patients (mean age: 64 ± 9 years; mean left atrial volume: 59 ± 24 mL/m2 ; male sex: 12) with atrial fibrillation (8 paroxysmal, 8 persistent). Following pulmonary vein isolation, CRYO balloon was dragged across the roof and PW with lesions delivered at half-balloon-width intervals. CRYO balloon and esophagus were precisely localized to 1 mm accuracy with Navik 3D mapping system (APN Health, LLC, Waukesha, WI). Lesions were maintained for 3 minutes unless a MET of <28°C was encountered. Incidence of lesions with a MET of 28°C was compared between pulmonary veins, PW, and roof sites using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: Lesions were distributed as follows: roof (n=81), PW (n=34), and pulmonary veins (right superior [RSPV, n=19], right inferior [RIPV, n=21], left superior [LSPV, n=19], and left inferior [LIPV, n=17]). Occurrence of MET of <28°C was: 1 of 81 roof, 2 of 34 PW, 2 of 21 RIPV, 2 of 17 LIPV, and no RSPV/LSPV lesions. MET of <28°C was more common in RIPV (9.5%) and LIPV (11.8%) when compared to roof (1.2%) and PW (5.9%); these differences were statistically significant (P<0.001 for all comparisons).

Conclusion: Significant esophageal cooling with CRYO is less common at the roof and PW than in inferior pulmonary veins, and the overall incidence is low. CRYO of PW and roof may be safer than CRYO of pulmonary veins.

Document Type

Abstract

PubMed ID

31768407