Cryoballoon ablation of the right atrial appendage to treat tachycardia in a pediatric patient

Abstract

Abstract Catheter ablation to treat atrial tachycardia originating in the atrial appendages can be challenging due to complex anatomy and concerns for myocardial perforation. When conventional endocardial ablation is unsuccessful or patients have recurrent tachycardia, alternative approaches may be entertained, including an epicardial transcatheter approach or surgical isolation or resection of the atrial appendage. Endocardial cryoballoon ablation is commonly used in adults with atrial fibrillation to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins, and has been extended to isolate the left atrial appendage to improve outcomes in these patients. There are limited reports using cryoballoon ablation to treat adults with non-fibrillation tachycardia originating in atrial appendages, and none in children. In this report, we describe our experience using cryoballoon ablation to electrically isolate the right atrial appendage to treat a pediatric patient with recurrent atrial tachycardia following 2 previous catheter ablation procedures.