Difference between ablation and cryoblation?

[Trav334]

Is there any difference between ablation and cryoblation? I was due to have an ablation with my cardiologist but got postponed to another day and a new doctor due to COVID-19. This older doctor taught my cardiologist but uses cryoblation. On the surface, freezing seems preferable to soldering via heat or have I got this wrong? Is this a lesser version and is there any difference during the procedure (i'll be out) and what the outcome can be? I'm nervous now after this curveball and not sure if to proceed.

[CDreamer]

Cryoablation uses a balloon which covers a larger area so the procedure is normally much faster. The balloon is filled with a freezing gas which burns by ice whereas RF (Radio Frequency) ablation is a fine wire which burns by heat. Result is same so there is not much to choose between if you have typical electrical entry pathways around the pulmonary veins and have normal sized veins - I don’t so cryoablation wasn’t an option for me.

Until the AF is mapped, they often cannot tell which will be suitable for you. Sometimes Cryoablation needs a follow up with RF anyway.

It is the scarring from the burns which block the rogue electrical signals so it is the accuracy of the operator in burning all of the signal sites which is of prime importance.

[Trav334 in reply to CDreamer]

Appreciate the insights. I guess I'll see tomorrow and fingers crossed they can target it correctly the first time.

[Hidden]

The EP that did my ablation would only use RF, as he could target much more precisely where he needed to ablate.

[Trav334 in reply to Hidden]

Interesting. Yeah my concern is going back for round 2, when I could have had that in the first place.

[Hidden in reply to Trav334]

Some people have to have more than one ablation, but if cryo did not give good results then they wouldn't do it .

There must be some level of first time success for this method, maybe you'll be in that group

[Jajarunner]

I had cryo. It can do a nice circle around the pulmonary veins without missing any bits apparently. That's according to ArcticFront's video on Youtube. Not for the squeamish though, Im not, but I still didn't watch it until post ablation!!

[Trav334 in reply to Jajarunner]

Yeah I'm not to keen to see that either. Great to hear it worked out for you and interesting that it seems like a wider scope if veins allow.

[Madscientist16]

I had cryo-ablation and luckily had perfectly round and separate pulmonary veins, so the cryoballoon could freeze a perfect ring around each one. I am almost 8 months post-ablation and no AF and not on any meds.

[Jajarunner in reply to Madscientist16]

Mine were crocked so he had to move the 'branding iron' around and do some extra burns

BUT I did have the usual four pulmonary veins, some people have 3 or 5, apparently!!!

[Jajarunner in reply to Jajarunner]

Not crocked. I meant crooked. I not sure how to spell it! We'll, I mean not straight. Crooked.

[Trav334]

That's great to hear, hopefully I have the same outcome!

[Poncegirl]

I had the cryoablation in August 2020 after a full year of afib and SVT. My afib was daily for a min of 12 hours per day. Then went to afib 24/7. My svt got worse soaring from 60 to 200. I was always weak to passing out. My cardiologist kept changing meds and the last one he wanted to try I’d need to be in the hospital for three days to be monitored during the trail period. I refused and insisted on ablation. My go hospital for anything serious is Mayo in Jax. I had a meeting with Dr Fred Kusamoto my CP. it’s been over a year, no afib or SVT and better yet, no meds other then eliquis.