Prediction of recurrence after cryoballoon ablation therapy in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Introduction of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation was a milestone in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Efficacy of these procedures has been well documented (1), but it is still a matter of debate how to predict success or failure of PV ablation. Several predictors of AF relapse after ablation procedures have been suggested, including age and comorbidities, AF type and episode duration, electrocardiographic parameters, and biomarker levels (2–5). Much attention was paid to echocardiographic parameters providing an assessment of left atrial (LA) size and function. It was shown that an increased LA volume (6, 7) and LA mechanical dyssynchrony (3, 8, 9) were independent predictors of AF recurrence after catheter ablation. However, different echocardiographic techniques were used in these studies, and they also differed in terms of study design and definitions of recurrence