Study limitations
This study was a single center trial and the study population was
relatively small. The LAP was not evaluated continuously because the
insertion of the cryoballoon into the long sheath was needed to perform
the PVI and an accurate LAP could not be evaluated during cryoballoon
ablation. The sedation status was variable even with the same dose of an
anesthetic agent, and the collapsibility of the upper airway also
changed during the procedure. An additional propofol bolus
administration as the patient status dictated easily deepen the sedation
status for a certain length of time. Therefore, the efficacy of the ASV
for the LAP could be variable and labile.
The present study did not perform polysomnography to evaluate the extent
of the OSA before the ablation procedure. Therefore, the prevalence of
OSA might have been underestimated. Further prospective studies that
enroll larger numbers of patients with OSA and investigate the LAP
change after the ASV treatment are expected.