Performed by The Heart Group physicians, Dr. Ashwani Bedi and Dr. Chandra Kumbar, CryoAblation Artic Front® balloon technology utilizes a special catheter to deliver cold through an inflatable balloon to freeze targeted tissue in the heart and disable unwanted electrical circuits that contribute to atrial fibrillation.

“Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in the United States and occurs when the heart’s upper two chambers lose their natural rhythm and begin to beat erratically,” said Dr. Kumbar. “This condition, which affects more than 2.3 million people in the United States, can lead to strokes, heart failure or heart disease if left untreated.”

“CryoAblation is very safe and has a low risk of complications,” said Dr. Bedi. “This new procedure has been used to treat over 20,000 patients in 200 centers worldwide. Findings from a large clinical trial found that almost 70 percent of patients treated with CryoAblation were free from atrial fibrillation at one year, compared to 7.3 percent of patients treated with drug therapy only. Additionally, patients treated with CryoAblation displayed a significant reduction of symptoms, a decrease in the use of drug therapy, and substantial improvements in quality of life factors. “

The Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway and The Heart Group physicians is the only facility and physicians in the Tri-State area offering this advanced technology. To learn more about this new technology, call The Heart Hospital at Deaconess Gateway at 812-842-4784 or The Heart Group at 800-432-7868.