Experience with Various Surgical Options for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1532/HSF98.20041013

Abstract

Background: New alternatives exist using various energy sources and lesion lines for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The efficacy of these options compared to the cut-and-sew maze III procedure is unknown.

Methods: From August 1996 to August 2003, 79 patients have undergone a procedure for AF, with 70 patients currently more than 3 months postsurgery. The patients (58 continuous, 12 paroxysmal) underwent a surgical procedure for AF, lone AF (12) and with concomitant procedures (58). Techniques included cut and sew (23), bipolar radiofrequency (RF) (28) and unipolar-RF (10), and cryothermy (9). Lesions included maze III (46), pulmonary vein isolation (16), and pulmonary vein isolation plus mitral annular connecting line only (8).

Results: Follow-up was complete in 58 (83%) of 70 patients at a mean time of 595 ± 750 days (range, 24-2530 days). The operative mortality was 0% in lone AF patients and 7.1% (5/70) in patients undergoing concomitant procedures. Need for perioperative pacemaker was 22.9%. Overall, normal sinus rhythm (NSR) was restored in 82.7% of patients, with success in 83.3% (10/12) lone procedures and 82.6% (38/46) concomitant procedures (P = NS); the rate of continuous AF was 85.1% (40/47) and SR with paroxysmal fibrillation was 72.7% (8/11) (P = NS). Traditional maze was successful in 80.6% (29/36) patients, pulmonary vein isolation was successful 93.3% (14/15), and left-sided maze in 71.4% (5/7) (P = NS). Cut and sew procedures were successful in 88.2% (15/17), RF-bipolar in 84.0% (21/25), RF-unipolar in 77.8% (7/9), and cryothermy in 71.4% (5/7) (P = NS). Energy source, lesion set, AF duration, and lone/concomitant procedure were the factors subjected to logistic regression analysis. No factors were predictive of achieving postoperative NSR. Conclusions: Our early experience with newer surgical techniques employing different energy sources and fewer incision lines suggests that the success rate may approach the results obtained with traditional cut-and-sew Cox-maze III procedures.

References

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Published

2005-01-04

How to Cite

Experience with Various Surgical Options for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. (2005). The Heart Surgery Forum, 7(4), E333-E336. https://doi.org/10.1532/HSF98.20041013

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