Comparison of Uniatrial and Biatrial Radiofrequency Ablation Procedures in Atrial Fibrillation: Initial Results

Abstract

Background: Atrial fi brillation (AF) is the most commonly sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance. Surgical ablation tech-niques were developed involving the left atrium only and modifi cations of the maze procedure in ablating both atria.
Objective: The aim of this study was to compare, in patients with permanent AF, the effi cacy of uniatrial versus biatrial radiofrequency ablation procedure in the treatment of chronic atrial fi brillation in patients with associated cardiac disease.
Method: Between September 2003 and May 2009, 30 patients were submitted to the radiofrequency abla-tion procedure for AF associated with concomitant cardiac surgery; 15 patients underwent a uniatrial procedure, and 15 patients underwent biatrial ablation. The mean age was 47.73 ± 9.85 years, and 53.4% were men. The average follow-up time was 12.16 ± 10.89 months for the uniatrial group and 7.0 ± 4.0 months for the biatrial group.
Results: Neither hospital mortality nor complications related to radiofrequency ablation were was registered. At the time of hospital discharge, 9 patients (60%) were in a state of sinus rhythm in both groups. However, patients undergoing biatrial ablation (range 73.3% versus 46.7%) demonstrated complete freedom from atrial fi brillation at all times.
Conclusion: Biatrial ablation surgical procedures were more effective in controlling atrial fi brillation than proce-dures limited to the left atrium