Safety and effectiveness of cryoballoon ablation in elderly patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation:a long-term follow-up
Li Zhenhui
Zhang Chunhong
Ma Yongjiang
Guo Mate
Zhang Liwei
Abstract：Objective To discuss the effectiveness and safety of cryoballoon ablation(CBA)in elderly patients(aged 65 and above)with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation(PAF)during a long-term follow-up period.Methods PAF patients underwent CBA(n=42)were selected from the Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from Dec.2017 to May 2024,aged 33～82(63.40±10.64)years.Of these,20 patients aged ≥65 years were placed in the older age group;22 patients aged＜65 years(age between 33 and 64 years)were placed in the control group.The preoperative baseline materials,including left atrial size,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),low-density lipoprotein(LDL),were collected.The different pulmonary vein freezing parameters,including left superior pulmonary vein(LSPV),right superior pulmonary vein(RSPV),the left inferior pulmonary vein(LIPV),and the right inferior pulmonary vein(RIPV),were recorded during the operation.The PAF recurrence rate,clinical success rate,surgical safety and incidence of postoperative complications were followed up and reviewed in elderly group within postoperative blanking period and within 77 months after postoperative blanking period.Results ①The differences in LDL and CHA2DS2-VaSc-60 scores had statistical significance(P＜0.05),and differences in other baseline materials had no statistical significance(P＞0.05)between elderly group and control group.②The differences in average CBA temperature and times,average total CBA time,total operation time and atrial septal puncture time for different pulmonary veins had no statistical significance between 2 groups(P＞0.05).③Finally,18 patients in the elderly group completed follow-up,and all 22 patients in the control group completed follow-up.The clinical success rate of PAF non-recurrence was 77.8％(14/18)in elderly group and 81.8％(18/22)in control group after blanking period(P=0.751).④There were 2 cases with complications in elderly group and 1 case with complications in control group.Conclusion CBA is safe and effective for treating elderly PAF patients aged 65 and above,with a high long-term clinical success rate of freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence after the operation.
Keywords：Cryoballoon ablationPulmonary vein isolationParoxysmal atrial fibrillationAgedness
Publication Date：2025-05-20
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 590-594 )