title: [Surgery ablation of atrial fibrillation with epicardial and endocardial biauricular radiofrequency: initial experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation is frequent in surgical patients with cardiac valvulopathies. Radiofrequency energy applied by means of surgical probes permits the reproduction of atriotomies described in the maze surgical procedure for the ablation of atrial fibrillation in a fast, safe and efficient way. This study presents our initial experience in treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation through radiofrequency performed in patients with surgical cardiac valvulopathies.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June to November 2000, 10 patients, with surgical indications of valvulopathy, were intraoperatively treated through radiofrequency for its atrial fibrillation. Ablations were performed in the right auricle from the epicardium before starting extra corporeal circulation, and in the left auricle from the endocardium, while under circulation. Radiofrequency was applied through a surgical multielectrode probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients (80%) presented some type of postoperative arrhythmia, with relapse of paroxysmal fibrillation in 3 patients and flutter in another one. At discharge, none of the patients presented relapse of chronic atrial fibrillation. There was no in-hospital mortality. After a mean follow-up of 3 months (range 1-6), 8 patients (80%) have recovered and maintained sinus rhythm. Only one patient has re-established echocardiographic biatrial contraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoperative radiofrequency has allowed us to perform the auricular lesions, in both auricles, in a simple way, with an initial effectiveness of 80%. Epicardial ablation of the right auricle was simple and safe. Although no patient presented relapse of chronic atrial fibrillation at hospital discharge, postoperative arrhythmias have continued to be the main postsurgical problem.
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Cirugía Cardíaca. Hospital General Universitario de Valencia. Spain. hornero_fer@gva.es
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hornero Sos
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Montero Argudo
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gil Albarova
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García Fuster
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Atienza Fernández
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paya Serrano
authors.forename: José Leandro
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pérez Bosca
authors.forename: Aurelio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quesada Dorador
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cánovas López
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dalmau Sorli
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bueno Codoñer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged