Cryoablation time-dependent dose-response effect at minimal temperatures (-80 C): an experimental study

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Abstract
To establish a temporal safety window for cryoablation at minimal temperatures and to assess the electrophysiological and histological changes as a function of the application duration. Twenty mini-pigs underwent AV nodal cryoablation at −80°C without prior cryomapping. The duration of the cryoapplication following atrioventricular block (AVB) was randomized to 0, 10, 20, 40, or 60 s. Atrioventricular block was obtained in all animals after a median of 3 (1–8 interquartile range) applications. One week later, AV nodal conduction fully recovered in animals with application duration P = 0.026). There was no difference in lesion location or size between animals with vs. those without persistent AVB at 1 week. However, animals randomized to longer application duration demonstrated higher degree of cell destruction and fibrotic content. In this closed-chest pig model, there was a relation between cryoapplication duration following AVB at −80°C and recovery of conduction. A safety window of at least 10 s was observed in all cases.

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