• Christian-Hendrik Heeger, Verena Tscholl, Omar Salloum, Erik Wissner, Thomas Fink, Laura Rottner, Peter Wohlmuth, Barbara Bellmann, Mattias Roser, Shibu Mathew, Bruno Reißmann, Christine Lemeš, Tilman Maurer, Francesco Santoro, Britta Goldmann, Ulf Landmesser, Feifan Ouyang, Karl-Heinz Kuck, Andreas Rillig, and Andreas Metzner.
• Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany; University Heart Center Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany. Electronic address: christian.heeger@gmx.net.
• Heart Rhythm. 2018 Dec 1; 15 (12): 1844-1850.

BackgroundSecond-generation cryoballoon (CB2)-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has demonstrated encouraging clinical results for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and persistent AF. However, rhythm follow-up after PVI is mainly based on Holter electrocardiography of limited duration.ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to assess the real AF burden following CB2-based PVI in patients with implanted cardiac devices.MethodsA total of 670 consecutive patients underwent CB2-based PVI at 3 electrophysiology centers. In 66 patients (9.9%), an implantable cardiac device with continuous monitor function was independently implanted before the procedure (device group). This patient cohort was compared to propensity score-matched patients without cardiac devices (n = 66; control group).ResultsA total of 254 of 258 PVs (98.4%0 in the device group were successfully isolated using only CB2. Postprocedural device interrogation found no device or lead malfunction related to the procedure. Periprocedural complications were registered in 7 of 66 patients (11%) in the device group and in 6 of 66 patients (9%) in the control group (P = .770). Phrenic nerve palsy occurred in 6 of 66 patients (9%) in the device group) and in 2 of 66 patients (3%) in the control group) (P = .274). Clinical success in terms of freedom from AF recurrence after a 1-year follow-up period was 63.8% (95% confidence interval 53-77) in the device group and 77.3% (95% confidence interval 68-88) in the control group (P = .038). In the device group, AF/AT burden decreased from 41.8% ± 35.0% before the procedure to 10.2% ± 22.4% after 1 year (P <.0001).ConclusionCB2-PVI seems safe and feasible in patients with an implanted cardiac device. A significantly higher AF/AT burden was seen in patients with an implanted cardiac device compared to a control group.Copyright © 2018 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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