EFFECTIVENESS OF UNIPOLAR RADIOFREQUENCY SURGICAL ABLATION FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Abstract

Aim. To verify the effectiveness of surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation by irrigated unipolar radiofrequency, applied to both atria, for the reversal and maintenance of the sinus rhythm in the short and medium term in patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery.Material and methods. Between February 2008 and March 2012 a total of 35 consecutive patients with persistent and permanent paroxysmal AF underwent surgical tachyarrhythmia ablation by irrigated unipolar radiofrequency applied biatrially with concomitant cardiac surgery. All cases were diagnosed at least 12 months before the procedure and the group consisted of 15 (42,8%) male and 20 female (51,2%) patients, aged 25-78 years (52,23±12,82).Results. There were 24 (68,5%) patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease with 25,8% with degenerative disease. The left atrial diameter measured by transthoracic echocardiography ranged from 44 to 70 millimeters (mm) (55,31±18,10).There were two hospital deaths in this series. Upon discharge, we observed the following rhythms and percentages: 24 (68,5%) — sinus rhythm, 7 (20%) — AF and 4 (11,5%) — junctional rhythm. At medium term follow-up we obtained the following results: 11 (73,3%) — sinus rhythm, 2 (13,35%) — junctional rhythm and 2 (13,35%) — AF.Conclusion. Surgical ablation by irrigated unipolar radiofrequency applied to both atria is effective in the reversal and maintenance of sinus rhythm during short and medium term follow-up.

Keywords

• atrial fibrillation
• unipolar radiofrequency
• heart failure