Bipolar Radiofrequency to Ablate Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery
Key result
Bipolar radiofrequency ablation during mitral valve surgery resulted in 85% of patients being free of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter by 3 months postoperatively.
Why the study?
Does bipolar radiofrequency ablation improve freedom from atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery?
Population
108 patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve surgery
Design
Case_series
Follow-up
3 months
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
Supports adjunctive bipolar ablation in mitral surgery; leaves open efficacy confirmation pending randomized trials.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=108)
Multicenter
No
Structured PICO
Does bipolar radiofrequency ablation improve freedom from atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery?
P
Population
108 patients (mean age 67, 51% female) with preexisting atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve surgery, followed for a mean of 5.4 months.
I
Intervention
Atrial fibrillation ablation using a bipolar radiofrequency clamp (bilateral pulmonary vein isolation and excision or exclusion of the left atrial appendage)
O
Outcome
Prevalence of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter at 3 months postoperatively
Bipolar radiofrequency ablation during mitral valve surgery is safe and results in 85% of patients being free of atrial fibrillation or flutter at 3 months.
Limitations
- Limited ECG follow-up extending beyond 6 months
- Lesion sets and techniques of application varied
- Late results of the operations are not yet available
- Lack of a control group
- Short follow-up duration (late results not documented)
Cite This Study
Gillinov et al. (2004) conducted an observational in Atrial fibrillation and mitral valve disease (n=108). Bipolar radiofrequency ablation was evaluated on Freedom from atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter at 3 months postoperatively. Bipolar radiofrequency ablation during mitral valve surgery resulted in 85% of patients being free of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter by 3 months postoperatively.