Cryoballoon

[Wum1t1gs2s]

Hi all...My doctor has recommended me for "Cryoballoon" for my PAF. I ve never heard of this. Has anyone had this done?, what does it entail?, and what are the recovery times?

[BobD Volunteer]

Ablation by cryo balloon is a common procedure. If you go to AF Association website you will find plenty of information to explain the procedure. A short explanation follows.

A catheter is inserted into a vein in the groin and fed through the veinus system into your heart. Once there a fine wire is inserted on the end of which is a small balloon. Once in your heart this is placed inside the entrances of the four pulmonary veins in turn and and gas blown in which freezes causing scars to form. These scars will hopefully stop the rogue electical impluses which cause the atrial fibrillation.

OK now come down from the ceiling please as it really is not as bad as it sounds. You will be either heavily sedated or under general anaesthetic and know nothing about it. It is a very common procedure, minimally invasive (no big incisions to worry about) and is often successful at terminating AF.

Ask any other questions and we will try to help

[Wum1t1gs2s in reply to BobD]

Thank you. This has helped me feel a bit more at ease..

[Hidden]

These two AF Association factsheets will help you with preparing for and recovering from any form of catheter ablation.

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

Over 8000 ablations are performed annually in the UK and a lot of them are Cryoablations so you are in good company. Generally a Cryoablation is carried out first because it is an effective and quick way to treat the 4 pulmonary veins which tend to be the main source of rogue impulses. Sometimes it is necessary to have a follow up Radio Frequency (heat) ablation to treat any areas which might be missed by the expanding balloon. This happened to me and I’m fine now 🤞…

[Wum1t1gs2s in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the onfo...

[KMRobbo]

I had the procedure 4 years 2 months ago. No AFib since. I was a fairly fit 57 with no other co morbitities. I was under fairly light sedation, Little pain during the procedure, the cryo ablation is like an extended brain freeze when you bite into a cold ice cream on a hot day. You feel it in your head not your chest.

Best wishes.

[Hammerboy]

Hi , I had a cryo ablation in 2019 which unfortunately didn't fully stop my PAF and I'm currently waiting for the RF ablation follow up procedure .In my experience there was nothing to worry about , I was sedated and reasonably confortable throughout the 90 minutes I was on the table .

I recovered well , bruising went after less than a week and I was doing light exercise within 2 weeks .

Expectation is the problem as I thought it was the end of my AF journey but I will say my episodes are now milder and less frequent so I'm hopeful the follow up will give me longer term relief .

I certainly would recommend having an ablation and possibly more than one if necessary.

Try not to worry .

[Hidden]

Ablation- cryo ablation. Mine straightforward

[Jajarunner]

Yes! Me! It was fine. I wrote about it exhaustively about it on my blog under first ablation if you are interested

hhtafibathlete.blogspot.com...

[Melchet]

Had my cryoablation August 2018 at age 66yrs and been free of AF since then. Fully expect the monster to return in due course and a further ablation may be required. IMHO the biggest benefit post ablation was being able to stop Flecainide and Propranolol which were a major cause of breathlessness when out for a vigorous walk. Good luck with your procedure!

[DKBX]

First ablation was cryo, second and third rf. STILL have to take metoprolol and flecainide and have occasional cardioversions. Scheduled for a fourth ablation in a month. Who knows? But I’m not expecting much.My advice—

Don’t expect the miracle cure from ANY procedure, med, diet, lifestyle change, etc. Most important, don’t even try figuring out ‘triggers.’

I liken rhythm issues to getting wrinkly skin and what ever other changes come with aging.

Some things you just accept and get on with life … however little is left.