LAUSR

See Article by Miyazaki et al Recently, it was demonstrated that freedom from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation can be achieved by cryoballoon guided pulmonary vein isolation as effectively as by radiofrequency guided ablation.1 Moreover, repeat cardioversions and hospitalizations were significantly reduced after cryoballoon treatment.2 As a result, cryoballoon guided pulmonary vein isolation is increasingly used rapidly approaching 300 000 procedures worldwide (source: Medtronic). Although cryoballoon has shown favorable procedural outcomes in terms of stroke, it remains a devastating complication related to left atrial ablation. One of the most important steps toward reduced stroke/transient ischemic attack rates was to implement uninterrupted anticoagulation into management of patients undergoing ablation.3,4 However, other factors such as gaseous emboli …