Cardiac Balloon Cryoablation for Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) at St. Anthony Hospital

St. Anthony Hospital cardiologist J. Thomas Svinarich, MD, FACC is one of a select few specialists across the country performing balloon cardiac cryoablation for Afib, or atrial fibrillation treatment in the Denver, Colorado region. Afib is an often life-threatening heart condition, that if left untreated can lead to dementia, stroke, heart failure and death. St. Anthony Hospital is the first medical center in Colorado and the region to offer the breakthrough cryoblation procedure and Dr. Svinarich has now completed nearly 200 cases and is establishing St. Anthony Hospital as an arrythmia management center for Colorado.

"This procedure has been used in Europe for more than five years, and the U.S. clinical trials were completed nearly two years ago. The fact that St. Anthony Hospital chose to embrace this new technology early allowed us anticipate procedures and obtain necessary training," explains Dr. Svinarich.

Afib or atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that affects the upper chambers of the heart, results in blood not being completely pumped out of the upper chambers of the heart, which may cause it to pool and clot. Cardiac balloon cryoablation offers a faster, more efficient and more comprehensive treatment alternative to radiofrequency ablation. The balloon-based Arctic Front® cryoablation technology destroys the cardiac tissue through the use of a coolant rather than heat used in radiofrequency ablation. This freezing technology allows the catheter to adhere to the tissue during ablation, allowing for greater catheter stability.

St. Anthony Hospital has the most established cardiac cryoablation program in the region and the technology is well proven. To date, more than 15,000 patients in more than 200 centers worldwide have benefited from Arctic Front® cardiac cryoablation for atrial fibrillation.

J. Thomas Svinarich, MD, FACC
Colorado Heart & Vascular 
303-595-2727
or call Ask-A-Nurse at 303-777-6877