Medtronic receives FDA expanded approval for cardiac cryoablation catheters for pediatric treatment of a common heart rhythm condition

Medtronic plc a global leader in healthcare technology, announced that the Freezor and Freezor Xtra Cardiac Cryoablation Catheters are approved by the FDA and are the only ablation catheters approved to treat the growing prevalence of pediatric Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia (AVNRT).

AVNRT is the most common form of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and is a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm, with 89,000 cases each year and growing. Nearly 35% of AVNRT cases occur in pediatrics, or, children under the age of 18. Due to an abnormal circuit within the heart’s conduction system, AVNRT causes a very rapid heart rhythm, and if left untreated, can affect the heart’s ability to pump normally, leading to palpitations, lightheadedness, and syncope.

The Freezor cardiac cryoablation catheter was first commercially available in the U.S. for adult use of AVNRT in 2003, followed by the Freezor Xtra cardiac cryoablation catheter in 2016.