First Dutch experience with the endoscopic laser balloon ablation system for the treatment of atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION: The endoscopic laser balloon ablation system (EAS) is a relatively novel technique to perform pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The present study aimed to report the results of the first 50 patients treated in the Netherlands with the EAS in terms of procedural characteristics and AF-free survival. METHODS: Fifty patients successfully underwent EAS PVI. Median follow-up was 17 months. Mean age was 56 years, 82 % had paroxysmal AF. RESULTS: 99 % of the pulmonary veins were successfully isolated with the EAS. Mean procedure time was 171 min and mean fluoroscopy time was 36 min. One procedure was complicated by a temporary phrenic nerve palsy (2 %). During follow-up, 58 % of patients remained free of AF without the use of antiarrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSION: PVI with EAS is associated with a low risk of complications and a medium-term AF-free survival comparable with other PVI techniques. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12471-014-0624-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.