Concomitant intraoperative radiofrequency ablation restored long-term sinus rhythm in 71% of patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing open-heart surgery.
Cohort (n=293)
Does concomitant radiofrequency atrial ablation improve maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing open-heart procedures?
Concomitant intraoperative RF ablation during open-heart surgery effectively restores long-term sinus rhythm in patients with preoperative AF, though it does not appear to influence long-term survival.
BACKGROUND AND AIM OF STUDY: This study evaluated the long-term outcome of linear, endocardial, radiofrequency (RF) atrial ablation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) concomitantly to open-heart procedures for acquired cardiac organic disease. METHODS: A saline-irrigated "pen-like" RF ablation catheter (Cardioblate(®), Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was used to perform endocardial lines of conduction block in 293 patients with AF who underwent open-heart procedures between September 2000 and February 2008. RESULTS: Patients (age of 65 ± 11 years) underwent left atrial ablation for permanent (44%), paroxysmal (51%), or undetermined (4.4%) AF. Maintenance in sinus rhythm (SR) at discharge and at the end of follow-up (average 3.3 ± 1.2 years) was observed in 52% and 71% of patients, respectively. Preoperative type or duration of AF did not influence the results (p = NS). Multivariate analysis with a logistic regression model showed left atrial diameter and increasing age were independent predictors of recurrent AF. In this study, return to SR did not influence survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed that concomitant intraoperative RF ablation is an effective technique to restore long-term SR after cardiac surgery in patients with preoperative AF but does not influence long-term survival.
Maltais et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation (n=293). Concomitant linear, endocardial, radiofrequency (RF) atrial ablation was evaluated on Maintenance in sinus rhythm at the end of follow-up. Concomitant intraoperative radiofrequency ablation restored long-term sinus rhythm in 71% of patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing open-heart surgery.