Mid-Term Results of Intraoperative Radiofrequency Ablation. A new approach to atrial fibrillation

Purpose : Mid-term results of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) were evaluated. Methods : A total of 87 patients were followed up for longer than three months after RFA. The mean age of them was 67± 11 years old, including 61 males and 26 females. Preoperatively 64 patients were in persistent AF, 21 had paroxysmal AF and two had atrial flutter. Fifty-eight patients underwent mitral valve repair/replacement concomitantly, including combined CABG or aortic valve replacement (AVR). CABG, AVR and CABG + AVR procedures were performed in 13, five and three patients, respectively. The left atrial RFA lesions were created endocardially in patients with mitral procedures, while epicardially created in patients with AVR/CABG. The right atrial epicardial lesions were common to both groups of patients. The mean follow-up period was 6.3 months ranging from three to 24. Results : No heart muscle or esophageal perforation occurred after RFA. The recovery rate to regular sinus rhythm at the time of three, six and 12 months after surgery was 83%, 88% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions : Mid-term results of RFA suggest that it is safe and effective in the treatment of AF, especially in patients without mitral valve disease.