Effects of Modified Simultaneous Unipolar Saline-Irrigated Radiofrequency Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Combined with Mitral Valve Disease

Bo Jiang,* Ji-Wei Gu,* Yan-Yan Song, Lei Bai, Xu-Dong Liu, Yu-Jing Zhang, Ming-Liang Li, Jian Yang, Li Liu, Yun Wang Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yun WangDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, No. 804 Shengli South Street, Xingqing District, Yinchuan, 750004, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86 6743014Email wangyun_21dr@163.comObjective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of a modified simultaneous unipolar saline-irrigated radiofrequency ablation by intracardiac operation under direct vision in patients with mitral valve diseases combined with atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods: A total of 168 patients with mitral valve diseases combined with AF who underwent unipolar saline-irrigated radiofrequency ablation modified maze procedures were enrolled and divided into the mitral stenosis (MS) group (n = 87) and the mitral insufficiency (MI) group (n = 81).Results: Those with a left atrium diameter (LAD) < 55 mm had a better cardioversion effect during the mid-term post-operation than those with a LAD ≥ 55 mm (P < 0.05). The cardioversion effect during the mid-term post-operation was better in those with a duration of AF < 2 years than those with AF ≥ 2 years (P < 0.05). The LAD reduced significantly during the early postoperative period in the MS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the early postoperative period, LAD further reduced, and the EF increased significantly during the mid-term post-operation (P< 0.05). The LAD reduced significantly during the early postoperative period in the MI group (P < 0.05), together with relatively decreased EF (P < 0.05). Compared with the early postoperative period, LAD further reduced, and the EF increased significantly during the mid-ter