Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Cardiology

The aim of this work was to study: The outcome of the new devices for ablation of paroxysmal and persistent AF . a) Cryoablation. b) Ablation Frontiers using novel decapolar ablation catheter (PVAC). Evaluation and analysis of both intra-procedural as well as post-procedural complications. Follow up of patients after ablation at 3 , 6 and 12 months. Conclusion: Cryoablation Our study shows that cryoballoon ablation technique of paroxysmal and persistant AF promises to be an effective approach and appears to have similar success rates compared with RF ablation after 12 months. Future studies will have to show whether this new device is also cost-effective as first-line treatment of paroxysmal AF without any prior antiarrhythmic medication and whether cryoballoon ablation is also able to achieve a similar substrate modification compared with RF energy in patients with persistent AF. II. Ablation Frontiers using novel decapolar ablation catheter (PVAC) PV isolation by antrum ablation with a circular, multielectrode catheter using duty- cycled bipolar and unipolar RF energy appears to be feasible and safe, with promising efficacy at 12 months. The fluoroscopy and procedural times appear to be shorter than those associated with current AF ablation techniques, without the need for sophisticated mapping and/or steering modalities.

Issued also as CD