title: Surgery for atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency catheter ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We present the results obtained in 40 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation using direct intraoperative radiofrequency to perform atrial fibrillation surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2001 and June 2002, 40 patients underwent surgery for atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency ablation and cardiac surgery at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the University of Bologna [corrected]. There were 8 men and 32 women with a mean age of 62 +/- 11.6 years (range: 20 to 80 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concomitant surgical procedures were: mitral valve replacement (n = 13), mitral valve replacement plus tricuspid valvuloplasty (n = 11), combined mitral and aortic valve replacement (n = 8), and combined mitral and aortic valve replacement plus tricuspid valvuloplasty (n = 5). Moreover, 1 patient underwent tricuspid valvuloplasty plus atrial septal defect repair, another required aortic valve replacement plus coronary artery bypass graft, and a third underwent aortic valve replacement. After the mean follow-up time of 16.5 +/- 2.5 months survival was 92.8% and the overall cumulative rate of sinus rhythm was 88.5%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the radiofrequency ablation procedure is a safe and effective means of curing atrial fibrillation with negligible technical and time requirements, allowing recovery of the sinus rhythm and atrial function in the great majority of patients with atrial fibrillation who underwent cardiac surgery (88.5% of our study population).
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, University of Bologna, Italy. bruno_chiappini@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chiappini
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martìn-Suàrez
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: LoForte
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Bartolomeo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged