Chandigarh- In a remarkable medical first for the Upper North region of India, Dr. Saurabh Mehrotra and his team under the leadership and guidance of Head of Department of Cardiology, Dr Yash Paul Sharma, PGIMER Chandigarh have successfully performed the region’s first cardiac cryoablation procedure, marking a new era of advanced arrhythmia care in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir.
The milestone case involved a patient with a previously implanted pacemaker who developed atrial fibrillation (AF)- a common but serious heart rhythm disorder — which subsequently led to acute decompensated heart failure and hospitalization.
Recognizing the need for a definitive rhythm control strategy, Dr. Mehrotra opted for cryoablation, a cutting-edge therapy that uses cold energy to isolate the pulmonary veins, thereby eliminating the source of AF.
“This was a complex patient scenario where traditional rate control wasn’t sufficient. By targeting the root cause- AF- with cryoablation, we were able to restore rhythm, relieve symptoms, and significantly improve cardiac function,” said Dr. Mehrotra, Professor, Cardiology at PGIMER Chandigarh.

 Why Cryoablation Matters:
Cryoablation works by freezing the abnormal electrical pathways in the heart with precision, minimizing collateral tissue damage. It offers several clinical advantages, especially for patients who may already have implanted devices such as pacemakers:
• Improved safety profile over traditional ablation techniques
• Shorter procedure times
• Reduced hospital stays and faster recovery
• Better long-term outcomes in selected AF patients

This case marks a landmark moment for the region, where access to advanced electrophysiology therapies has traditionally been limited to metros. PGIMER now becomes the first public teaching hospital in  North India to offer cryoablation therapy.
“This successful outcome showcases how regional centers like PGIMER are stepping up to deliver world-class cardiac care. More importantly, it provides hope to thousands of patients who suffer silently with AF and its complications,” added Dr. Mehrotra.