Atrial fibrillation is an arrhythmia that occurs in the right and/or left atrium and is characterized by disorganized atrial function that eventually leads to weakening of atrial mechanical function. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic stroke and hence treatment is indicated.
Medical treatment involves antiarrhythmic medication. Interventional therapy includes thermo- or RF-ablation, surgical exclusion procedures or the implantation of devices designed to close the left atrial appendage, the prime source of thromboemboli.
The safety and performance of a cryoablation system was evaluated in a long-term, prospective, randomized, multi-center study in patients with medically resistant, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.