Pulmonary vein size is associated with reconnection following cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation

Background The second-generation cryoballoon (CB) has proven to be a highly effective ablative strategy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). This study sought to investigate the anatomical characteristics of pulmonary veins (PVs) and the relationship between their size, ovality, and late reconnections in a large cohort of patients undergoing repeat ablation for recurrence of atrial arrhythmias. Methods and results A total of 152 consecutive patients (98 males, 64.5%; mean age 64.9 +/- 9.6 years) underwent a repeat ablation for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after a median time of 6.5 months [IQR 11] from the index CB ablation. All repeat ablations were performed using a 3-dimensional electro-anatomical mapping system. Among all 593 PVs, 134 (22.6%) showed a late PV reconnection in 95 patients (0.88 per patient), at the time of repeat ablation procedure. There was a significant difference in ovality between left- and right-sided PVs (p < 0.001). Greater diameters of left superior PV, left inferior PV, and right inferior PV ostia (both maximum and minimum) and higher index ovality were significantly associated with late PV reconnection. Conclusions The rate of late PV reconnection after CB ablation was low (0.88 PVs/patient). Left-sided PVs were more oval than septal PVs. Larger PV dimensions and higher ovality index were significantly associated with reconnections in all PVs except for RSPV.