This study reports on the acute and long-term results of cryoablation in patients with supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia. One hundred fifty nine patients with cardiac arrhythmias (147 with supraventricular and 12 with ventricular tachycardia) were consecutively enrolled in our institution to undergo trnasvenous cryoablation with a new cryotechnology system (CryoCor™). This cryoablation system consists of a console, an articulating arm housing a pre-cooler, and a disposable sterile steerable bipolar 10-fr catheter. The N₂O is used as a main refrigerant. The acute and chronic outcomes (after 15 months for patients with supraventricular tachycardia and 9 months for patients with ventricular tachycardia) were comparable to those using radiofrequency energy. From this study we concluded that transvenous cryoablation is a safe and effective therapy for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias.

Editor?s Comment As evident in the April issue of TCRT, cryosurgical techniques have applications in the therapy of tumors in many organs and tissues. In addition, cryosurgery has a diversity of therapeutic uses, including some for the selective destruction of tissue in the treatment of diseases. This article by Rodriguez and Timmermans describes the use of special cryosurgical technology in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. This article is included in this cancer-oriented journal with the thought that the catheter-based technology might be applicable to tumors in rather inaccessible locations, perhaps by inserting the steerable catheter structure via body orifices into tumors in distant sites. Andrew A. Gage, M.D.