Persistent atrial fibrillation successfully treated with pulmonary vein cryoablation. A case report.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) consists of disordered and ineffective contraction of the atria resulting in irregular ventricular contraction and excitation. Its estimated prevalence is 0.4 - 1% in the general population, but it increases with age and the risk factors that are associated with its higher incidence are: age, sex, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension. arterial. It is called persistent AF when it lasts more than 7 days and long-lasting persistent AF when it continues for more than 1 year after adopting a strategy to control heart rhythm. Ablation is recommended as a second-line treatment after treatment failure with antiarrhythmic drugs or when LV systolic dysfunction is present. It is performed mainly in symptomatic, relatively young patients and is effective in maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF. A clinical case is presented of a patient with long-term persistent atrial fibrillation who underwent pulmonary vein cryoablation with successful results and substantial improvement in his systolic ventricular function.