Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. The recommended treatment, according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, is electrophysiological therapy using catheter cryoablation. In this method, a catheter with a balloon at its tip, filled with cryogenic fluid (liquid nitrogen), is used. The catheter is inserted through the leg under local anesthesia and sedation.
The catheter is advanced to the left side of the heart, where it is positioned at the junction of the four pulmonary veins that connect to the left atrium. The balloon is inflated with the cryogenic fluid, creating a small scar at the point of contact. This scar acts as a barrier to the electrical signals coming from outside the heart. These external electrical signals attempt to enter the heart and cause arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. By creating this barrier, even if these electrical signals are present, they cannot enter the heart and trigger an arrhythmia.
The procedure lasts between half an hour to an hour, and the patient can leave the hospital the following day.