Recent advantages in balloon-based atrial fibrillation ablation

Atrial fibrillation ablation has been widely spread in all-over the world in this decade. The recent development of technologies, such as an image integration and advanced ablation catheters has provided the progress of ablation outcome. Nonetheless, convectional RF ablation remains a technically challenging procedure requiring skillful and experienced operators. The clinical outcome after AF ablation is still far from perfect.

The balloon-based ablation was considered as the one of the solutions in the context of its standardized procedure, which had the short learning curve, the short procedure time and the averaging clinical outcome regardless the operator’s experience. And also, the high PV durability has been reported in balloon-based ablation. However, the balloon-based ablation has its specific complications, such as esophageal and phrenic nerve injury.

In this session, we will discuss remaining issues concerning balloon-based ablation. Each Balloon catheter has individual characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. They were required to explore the solution. We hope meaningful discussion by not only presenters but also all of delegates and this session can contribute the progress of better clinical outcome.