Pulmonary vein antrum isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with valvular heart disease or prior open heart surgery.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein antrum isolation in patients with moderate valvular heart disease or open-heart surgery and atrial fibrillation (AF).


BACKGROUND
Valvular heart disease and open-heart surgery are commonly associated with AF and increase the risk of adverse events in AF patients.


METHODS
A total of 391 consecutive patients who had pulmonary vein antrum isolation performed between December 2000 and December 2002 were screened. A total of 142 of these patients had clinically significant valvular disease or prior cardiac surgery. End points included AF recurrence and pulmonary vein antrum isolation complication rates.


RESULTS
Patients with valvular heart disease or prior open-heart surgery were older, had larger left atria and a more advanced New York Heart Association class. They did not differ significantly with respect to gender, but had a longer history of AF. Procedure times were similar between patients with and without valvular heart disease or prior open-heart surgery. After 18 +/- 7 months in the lone AF patients, 11 +/- 5 months in patients with valvular heart disease, and 10 +/- 5 months in patients with prior open heart surgery, there was a trend toward lower recurrence of AF in patients with lone AF who enjoyed a 98% overall cure rate after up to 2 pulmonary vein antrum isolations versus 93% among patients with valvular heart disease (P = .04) and prior open heart surgery (P = .07). Complication rates were comparable between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary vein antrum isolation is safe and effective in patients with moderate valvular heart disease and the patients who developed AF after open-heart surgery. These results have implications for our understanding of the pathophysiology of AF in patients with moderate valvular heart disease or past cardiac surgery and should be considered when discussing treatment options in these patients.
Khaykin
Yaariv
Y
Center for Atrial Fibrillation, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
Marrouche
Nassir F
NF
Saliba
Walid
W
Schweikert
Robert
R
Bash
Dianna
D
Chen
Michael S
MS
Williams-Andrews
Michelle
M
Saad
Eduardo
E
Burkhardt
David J
DJ
Bhargava
Mandeep
M
Joseph
George
G
Rossillo
Antonio
A
Erciyes
Demet
D
Martin
David
D
Natale
Andrea
A
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000601:surgery