Sai Konduru, MD, a partner at Willis-Knighton Cardiology, now offers the Artic Front Advance® cryoballoon technology to treat patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib.) He is among the first doctors in the region to offer this unique procedure.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heart beat or arrhythmia, affecting 7 million people worldwide. It causes the upper chambers of the heart to beat too fast, inhibiting the movement of blood in and out of the heart. AFib diminishes a person’s overall quality of life with symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain, while increasing his or her risk of stroke and heart failure.

Cryoballoon ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that delivers a coolant through an inflatable balloon to freeze and ablate tissue, rather than creating lesions with radiofrequency or heated energy with a point-by-point catheter. The technology allows the physician to reach and treat pulmonary veins quickly and efficiently, stopping abnormal electrical activity that causes irregular heartbeat. 

“This next-generation cryoballoon technology provides the same high-caliber, clinically validated features of its predecessor, while offering the benefits of greater treatment efficiency,” Dr. Konduru says. “By treating patients with the most advanced, clinically relevant technology, we are better equipped to successfully manage their atrial fibrillation, thereby improving their overall quality of life.”

Studies show 73 percent of patients using cryoballoon technology achieved freedom from atrial fibrillation at one year

Dr. Konduru, who specializes in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, joined Willis-Knighton Cardiology in March, returning to Shreveport from private practice in the Kansas City area. His clinic is part of the Willis-Knighton Physician Network. His office is located in the Willis-Knighton Heart & Vascular Institute on the campus of Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport.