Open Access

Efficacy and safety of the second generation cryoballoon ablation for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients over 75 years: a comparison with a younger cohort

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Date: 10 April 2017
Journal: EP Europace Journal , Volume 19 , Issue 11 , Pages 1798 - 1803
Authors: J. Abugattas , S. Iacopino , D. Moran , V. De Regibus , K. Takarada , G. Mugnai , E. Ströker , H. Coutiño-Moreno , R. Choudhury , C. Storti , Y. De Greef , G. Paparella , P. Brugada , C. de Asmundis , G. Chierchia

ESC Journals

AbstractAims

In this double centre, retrospective study, we aimed to analyse the 1-year efficacy and safety of cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) in patients older than 75 years compared with those younger than 75-years old.

Methods and results

Fifty-three consecutive patients aged 75 years or older with drug-resistant paroxysmal AF (PAF) who underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by the means of second generation CB-A, were compared with 106 patients aged <75 years. The mean age in the study group (>75 years) was 78.19 ± 2.7 years and 58.97 ± 8.5 in the control group. At 1-year follow-up the global success rate was 83.6% and did not significantly differ between older (10/53) and younger patients (16/106) (81.1 vs. 84.9%, P = 0.54). Transient phrenic nerve palsy was the most common complication which occurred in eight patients in the younger group and in three in the older group (7.5 vs. 5.7%, respectively, P = 0.66).

Conclusions

The results of our study showed that CB-A for the treatment of PAF is a feasible and safe procedure in elderly patients, with similar success and complications rates when compared with a younger population.

About the contributors

Juan-Pablo Abugattas

Namur (Chu Ucl Namur Site de Sainte-Elisabeth)

Role: Author

Saverio Iacopino

Role: Author

Darragh Moran

Role: Author