title: Mid-term results of cardiac autotransplantation as method to treat permanent atrial fibrillation and mitral disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The results of current surgical options for the treatment of permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) associated with mitral surgery are widely different, particularly in very enlarged left atria. The aim of this study was to assess the mid-term efficacy of cardiac autotransplantation for this goal, through a consistent reduction of left atrium volume and a complete isolation of the pulmonary veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  From April 2000 to September 2002, 30 patients (male/female 5/25) underwent cardiac autotransplantation for the treatment of mitral valve disease and concomitant permanent AF (>1 year). Surgical technique of bicaval heart transplantation was modified maintaining the connection of inferior vena cava in all but three cases. Twenty-eight patients had mitral valve replacement and two had mitral valve repair. Associated procedures were: aortic valve replacement (6 cases), tricuspid valve repair (2 cases), coronary re-vascularization (2 cases) and right atrium volume reduction (4 cases).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No hospital death occurred; 1 patient died 3 months post-operatively for pneumonia. At a mean follow-up of 21.1+/-7.7 months (range 6-35), 26 patients (89.7%) were in sinus rhythm and 3 (10.3%) in AF. Santa Cruz Score was 0 in 3 patients, 2 in 2 patients and 4 in the remaining 24 patients (82.7%). Mean left atrial diameter and volume decreased from 65.1+/-16.4 mm (range 50-130 mm) to 49.9+/-8.4 mm (range 37-78) (P < 0.001) and from 118.3+/-68.4 ml (range 60-426) to 69.4+/-34.1 ml (range 31-226) (P = 0.001), respectively, after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac autotransplantation is a safe and effective option for the treatment of permanent AF in patients with mitral valve disease and severe dilation of left atrium.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, Poliambulanza Private Hospital, Via Bissolati 57, 25124 Brescia, Italy. cch-segreteria.poli@poliambulanza.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Troise
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cirillo
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brunelli
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tasca
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amaducci
authors.forename: Zen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mhagna
authors.forename: Margherita Dalla
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Tomba
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Quaini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome