Optimizing Atrial Fibrillation treatment with POLARx Cryoablation System™: procedural data analysis for clinical improvement in a real-world setting

Atrial fibrillation is a supraventricular tachycardia impacting the heart's atria, resulting in an elevated heart rate and erratic cardiac activity. This arrhythmia stands as the most prevalent disease worldwide, afflicting over 33 million individuals, with a projected increase due to population aging. Among the array of treatments available for atrial fibrillation, cardiac ablation of specific triggering structures, such as the pulmonary veins, has emerged as a promising approach. This project, conducted in collaboration with Boston Scientific Inc., a leading medical device company, afforded us the opportunity to observe the POLARx Cryoablation System in action within an Italian hospital. The primary objective is the development of an algorithm proficient in analyzing procedural data derived from POLARx ablation procedures, in order to provide a quantitative assessment of hospital performance when implementing this system, ensuring continued support for medical practitioners. Within this specialized field, the symbiotic relationship between technical specialists and medical professionals holds paramount significance. Consequently, the development of methodologies to assist physicians both pre-operatively, during the procedure, and post-operatively is pivotal, particularly in the context of operator-dependent procedures such as cardiac ablation. Our ultimate goal is to ensure the highest achievable standard of care for patients, in order to minimize percentages of AF recurrences and support physicians to increase their independence during procedures.