First description of a double-wall balloon breach during cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation

To date, this is the first published report of a double-wall breach while using the cryoballoon ablation catheter during the treatment of a patient with atrial fibrillation; however, there have been previous balloon breaches in both the second and third-generation cryoballoon ablation catheter usage. In this report, we describe the case of a double-wall balloon breach and the intraoperative care that was necessary to stabilize the patient. Additionally, we review other known cases of double-wall balloon breaches, and we examine the safety systems of the cryoballoon catheter that mitigate some of the potential patient complications.