Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
cryoablation
Pronunciation: CRY-oh-ab-LAY-shun
Ablation technique using extreme cold to create therapeutic lesions in cardiac tissue for arrhythmia treatment.
Full Definition
Cryoablation is an energy source for catheter ablation that uses extreme cold (typically -60°C to -80°C) to create therapeutic lesions in cardiac tissue. The technique causes cellular destruction through ice crystal formation and is particularly useful for ablating near critical structures due to its reversible nature during initial cooling. Cryoablation is commonly used for accessory pathway ablation near the AV node and pulmonary vein isolation in atrial fibrillation treatment.
Usage
Usage note: Often shortened to 'cryo' in clinical documentation. Distinguish from other thermal ablation modalities.
In Context
- "Cryoablation was selected for the posteroseptal accessory pathway due to its proximity to the AV node." — EP procedure report
- "The cryoballoon technique achieved effective pulmonary vein isolation with minimal complications." — Atrial fibrillation ablation note
Also known as
cryo ablation
cryotherapy ablation
Contrasted with
radiofrequency ablation
thermal ablation
Don't confuse with
hypothermia therapy
cryosurgery