Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disturbance diagnosed in 1-2% of the general population.
Method.
Access to the left atrium is carried out by means of a transseptal puncture under X-ray control. With the help of an introducer, cryoballone is delivered to the cavity of the left atrium. After positioning the balloon at the mouth of the pulmonary vein, the degree of its occlusion is controlled by the introduction of a contrast agent distal to the balloon. Time of cryopremediation from 180 to 240 sec. For each vein, on average, about two exposures are required until the activity in the pulmonary veins disappears completely. The presence of a bidirectional blockade of conduction is carried out after 20-30 minutes of waiting after the end of cryotherapy. The number of clinical and experimental data on the use of cryotechnology in this group of patients is growing.
Additional randomized multicentre studies are still required to definitively assess the long-term prospects for the use of catheter treatments for AF.