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Right arrow Electrophysiology - arrhythmias

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003;126:1788-1791
© 2003 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Cardiopulmonary support and physiology

Surgery for atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency catheter ablation

Bruno Chiappini, MDa,*, Sofia Martìn-Suàrez, MDa, Antonino LoForte, MDa, Roberto Di Bartolomeo, MDa, Giuseppe Marinelli, MDa

a Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

Received for publication January 30, 2003; revisions received May 21, 2003; accepted for publication June 18, 2003.

* Address for reprints: Bruno Chiappini, MD, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, via Massarenti 9-40138, Bologna, Italy
bruno_chiappini{at}hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE: We present the results obtained in 40 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation using direct intraoperative radiofrequency to perform atrial fibrillation surgery.

METHODS: Between April 1995 and June 2002, 40 patients underwent surgery for atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency ablation and cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the University of Bologna. There were 8 men and 32 women with a mean age of 62 ± 11.6 years (range: 20 to 80 years).

RESULTS: Concomitant surgical procedures were: mitral valve replacement (n = 13), mitral valve replacement plus tricuspid valvuloplasty (n = 11), combined mitral and aortic valve replacement (n = 8), and combined mitral and aortic valve replacement plus tricuspid valvuloplasty (n = 5). Moreover, 1 patient underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty plus atrial septal defect repair, another required aortic valve replacement plus coronary artery bypass graft, and a third underwent aortic valve replacement. After the mean follow-up time of 16.5 ± 2.5 months survival was 92.8% and the overall cumulative rate of sinus rhythm was 88.5%.

CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the radiofrequency ablation procedure is a safe and effective means of curing atrial fibrillation with negligible technical and time requirements, allowing recovery of the sinus rhythm and atrial function in the great majority of patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent cardiac surgery (88.5% of our study population).






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