Fehmi Keçe

Chapter 7 154 a model for a cryoballoon ablation score, similar to the ablation index or Lesion Index (17, 18). It has been demonstrated that the prospective use of an ablation score system, for example the ‘ablation index’ can improve clinical outcome (19). Similarly, a cryoballoon ablation score may further optimize cryoablation and related outcome. 7.4.5 Limitations This is a single center study analyzing procedural and biophysical parameters predicting ERC. Despite the relative large study population (n=151), the incidence of ERC in the PVs was only 9%. Therefore the results of this study may be considered hypothesis generating and need to be validated in larger cohorts. We had to use a statistical script to derive the biophysical parameters from text files from the cryoconsole. However, when the new cryoconsole will be available, data collection will be easier. This study only investigated the predictors of early reconnection; for a final model it may be important to also analyse data of late reconnection, since this can be dissimilar. We did not include indirect measurements for balloon occlusion, such as fluoroscopic contrast stasis or intracardiac echo doppler measurements into our prediction model. 24-Hour Holter monitoring was used to detect recurrences; longer rhythm monitoring could have detected more AF-episodes.