[Cryoablation for cardiac arrhythmias].

The development of radiofrequency ablation has revolutionized the treatment of certain arrhythmias such as supraventricular tachycardia. Radiofrequency ablation has now become first line therapy for arrhythmias such a atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and Wolf Parkinson White syndrome. A major drawback of these procedures, especially those that necessitate ablation close to the atriocentricular node, is the risk of inadvertent atrioventricular block. In the last few years a new technique, cryoablation, has been developed to treat supraventricular arrhythmias. One of the main advantages of this new energy source for ablation is the extremely low risk of atrioventricular block. This technique is therefore especially beneficial if ablation is planned in the vicinity of the atrioventricular node. This paper describes this new procedure along with the experience with the first cases of cryoablation in Iceland.