A new cryoprobe for intraoperative ablation of atrial fibrillation

We describe the use of a new argon cryoprobe (SurgiFrost) for isolated endocardial surgical ablation. A right lateral minithoracotomy and femoro-femoral cardiopulmonary bypass were applied. The basic mechanism of cryoablation is to remove heat from the targeted arrhythmogenic tissue followed by electrical isolation. In this first case of isolated treatment of atrial fibrillation using the new flexible SurgiFrost cryocatheter, we were able to perform pulmonary vein isolation reaching temperatures as low as −144°C. The patient was discharged in sinus rhythm. This new argon cryoprobe represents an encouraging technology for the isolated endocardial as well as concomitant treatment of atrial fibrillation.