Have you wondered about the pros and cons of using cryoablation or a cryoballoon therapy to manage AFib?  Join me for a fascinating discussion with Dr. Arash Aryana about the approaches available, and the varying successes of outcomes that EPs can achieve using cryoablation alone or in combination with other modalities. 

Dr. Aryana is a cardiac electrophysiologist located in Sacramento. Currently practicing at Mercy Medical Group, Dr. Aryana received his training at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr. Aryana joined Regional Cardiology Associates in 2008 and Mercy Medical Group in 2015. He specializes in the management of cardiac arrhythmias including both clinical and interventional therapies such as catheter ablation and cardiac rhythm device implantation. With nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles under his belt, Dr. Aryana is the current principal investigator for the PIVoTAL-IDE study on cryoballoon treatment, which we will be discussing later in this episode.

All Things Afib is hosted by me, Dr. Armin Kiankhooy. As a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon, my focus is on advanced treatments for heart and lung failure and minimally-invasive surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation such as the Hybrid Maze procedure. You can find me on staff at Adventist Health Heart and Vascular Institute in St. Helena California.

Discussion points:

Introduction and background – Dr. Aryana

How did cryo become a modality for the endocardial space

What percentage of procedures use cryo vs. a cryo/AF hybrid currently?

Is cryo becoming more popular?

What are the advantages of cryo vs. PFA (pulse-field ablation)?

Aryana’s Journal of Innovations article on cryoballoon ablation

How does cryo fit with intentional left atrial appendage ligation?

Using cryo for the ligament or Vein of Marshall (VOM)

Even the best surgeons are not 100% successful with ablation, how do you treat with cryoablation after those failures?

Why is your upcoming PIVoTAL-IDE study on cryoballoon treatment so important?

How the study invites more scrutiny with certain methodologies

When is this study projected to be finished?

The other exciting clinical trial– the CryoICE Atricure study

Resources:

Dr. Arash Aryana at Mercy Medical

PIVoTAL-IDE Study 

Journal of Innovations Article: Rationale and Outcomes of Cryoballoon Ablation of the Left Atrial Posterior Wall in Conjunction with Pulmonary Vein Isolation 

Study: AtriCure CryoICE Lesions for Persistent and Long-standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Treatment (ICE-AFIB)

Dr. Kiankhooy LinkedIn

All Things AFib Website

All Things AFib Twitter

All Things AFib YouTube Channel