Cryoballoon ablation of peri-mitral atrial flutter refractory to radiofrequency ablation: a case report

Background The radiofrequency catheter ablation of peri-mitral atrial flutter is occasionally difficult, mostly due to epicardial or intramural conduction on the mitral isthmus (MI). However, cryoballoon ablation (CBA) of peri-mitral atrial flutter refractory to radiofrequency ablation has not been reported. Case summary We report a case of a 66-year-old male patient who experienced a recurrence of atypical atrial flutter and underwent the sixth catheter ablation. The activation and entrainment maps showed that this atypical atrial flutter (AFL) was peri-mitral AFL via pathways other than endocardial conduction in the MI. Previous radiofrequency catheter ablation attempts on the MI line, including endocardial, coronary sinus, and epicardial ablations, failed to achieve a bidirectional block of the MI. In this case, we selected CBA for the MI area and successfully achieved a bidirectional block of the MI. Discussion Although using CBA in the MI is off-label, it could be safely implemented using CARTOUNIVU (TM). We attributed the success of the bidirectional block of the MI in this case to the crimping of the northern hemisphere of the CBA to the mitral isthmus area, which resulted in the formation of a broad, uniform, and deep ablation lesion site.