Cryo Balloon Ablation
Procedure:
Cryo Balloon Ablation techniques is an interventional procedure that is employed to control heart rhythms which are caused by abnormal electrical signals travelling from the pulmonary veins to the atria. In this procedure, a small incision in the groin area is made to insert the catheter to access the left atrium (upper chamber). The balloon is inflated and moved till the opening of the pulmonary vein, plugging the opening temporarily so the balloon is able to reach a cold enough temperature. The Cardiac Electrophysiologist then introduces cold energy (nitrous oxide) into the balloon. The cold energy freezes the tissue where the balloon touches the opening of the pulmonary vein. This scars the tissue, stopping the transmission of electrical signals that cause atrial fibrillation.
Major Indications:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular heart rhythm that affects the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. In AF, the atrium quivers instead of beating normally. AF can also lead to rapid heart rhythm, where the heart can beat as much as 300 times a minute or more in the atria and up to 150 times a minute or more in the lower chambers (ventricles). Those with AF have a five-time greater risk of stroke and two times greater risk of heart failure than those with normal heart rhythms.
Early ablation treatment with Cryo Balloon gives better quality of life and reduces the risk of heart failure and stroke in AF patients.
