[Partial left atriectomy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation associated with mitral valve disease].
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation is frequently observed under conditions associated with atrial dilatation. Atrial size is a factor related to the genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. Predictive parameters of persistence of atrial fibrillation after maze procedure are atrial size and long duration of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of surgical left atrial reduction in chronic atrial fibrillation by mitral valvulopathy.


METHODS
nineteen patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and dilated left atrium undergoing mitral valve procedures were included in this prospective study: group I with left atrial reduction (10 patients) and group II including control (9 patients). Both groups were with similar preoperative characteristics.


RESULTS
At the mean follow-up of 12 months, all the patients in group II had chronic atrial fibrillation, and 7 patients in group I showed in atrial rhythm (p < 0.003). The patients in whom atrial fibrillation continued after surgery showed left atrial area of 33.8 +/- 12.3 cm2 and a volume of 98.5 +/- 53.9 ml; and the patients with normal rhythm had a left atrial area of 24.5 +/- 5.3 cm2 and a volume 60.3 +/- 21.2 ml.


CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary results indicate that surgical left atrial reduction in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation may be a mechanism implicated in the elimination of arrhythmia after surgery.
Hornero Sos
F
F
Servicios de Cirugía Cardíaca Cardiología. Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Spain. fernando.hornero@hguv.org
Atienza Fernández
F
F
Montero Argudo
J A
JA
Gil Albarov
O
O
García Fuster
R
R
Paya Serrano
R
R
Pérez Bosca
J L
JL
Cánovas López
S
S
Dalmau Sorli
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies