The Heart Hospital Now Offers Arctic Front Advance Technology to Treat Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Arctic Front Advance Atrial Fibrillation

Arctic Front Advance Cryoballoon placed in left superior pulmonary vein (image courtesy of Medtronic)

The Heart Hospital at Northwest Texas Healthcare System now offers the Medtronic Arctic Front Advance™ Cryoablation System, the only Cryoballoon approved in the U.S. to treat drug refractory, symptomatic, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).

Building upon the established safety and efficacy of previous generations1, the newest Cryoballoon technology is used in a minimally invasive procedure to stop the erratic electrical signals that cause this common, yet serious, irregular heart rhythm disorder that affects more than 33 million people worldwide.2 Eighty-two percent of patients treated with the Cryoballoon achieved freedom from AF at one year, and 79 percent were free from AF, symptomatic atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia, as observed in a recent analysis.3

This innovative system is used to isolate the pulmonary veins where the electrical signals originate, using coolant rather than heat, and has been used to treat more than 400,000 patients in more than 60 countries.​ Cryoablation has been shown to improve quality of life for patients and significantly reduce  symptoms with patients experiencing a reduction in AF episodes, palpitations, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, swelling and syncope.4

“We are proud to be the only healthcare facility in Amarillo to provide this service to our patients in the Panhandle,” states Ryan Chandler, CEO at Northwest Texas Healthcare System. “By treating patients with the most advanced, clinically relevant technology, we are better equipped to successfully manage their atrial fibrillation, thereby improving their overall quality-of-life.”

About Atrial Fibrillation (AF)

AF is the most common and one of the most undertreated heart rhythm disorders. It is estimated that half of all diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients fail drug therapy,5 and if left untreated, patients have up to a five times higher risk of stroke and an increased chance of developing heart failure.Paroxysmal AF occurs when irregular heartbeats in the upper chambers start and stop suddenly on their own, usually for minutes or days at a time.

1 Packer DL, Kowal RC, Wheelan KR, et al. Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary veins for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: first results of the North American Arctic Front (STOP AF) pivotal trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. April 23, 2013.61(16)1713-1723.
2 Chugh S, Havmoeller R, Narayanan K, et al. Worldwide epidemiology of atrial fibrillation: a global burden of disease 2010 study. Circulation. 2014; 129:837-847.
3 Knight BP, Novak PG, Sangrigoli R, et al. 12-Month Clinical Outcomes Following Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) Using the Arctic Front Advance® Cryoballoon: Interim Results from the STOP-AF Post Approval Study. Presented at HRS May 2016 (Abstract).
4 Packer D, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2013 Mar 13 doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.11.064.
5 Wyse, et al. Circulation. 1996; 93:1262-1277.
6 Fuster, et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2006; 48:854-906.