title: Successful radiofrequency ablation determines atrio-ventricular remodelling and improves systo-diastolic function at tissue Doppler-imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical, echocardiographic results and determinants of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following AF ablation during mitral valve surgery (AFAMVS) were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients undergoing radiofrequency AFAMVS between January 2003 and December 2005, underwent serial echocardiographies with tissue Doppler imaging to assess atrio-ventricular function. Recurrence of AF, hospital readmission, episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded. Predictors for AF-recurrence were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At a 29.5+/-8.6 months of follow-up (100% complete), 78.8% patients were in sinus rhythm (SR). Freedom from AF-recurrence was 64.6+/-0.76%, from hospital readmission 88.9+/-0.47%, from CHF 91.6+/-0.63%. SR-patients demonstrated better freedom from hospital readmission (97.4 vs 60.6%; p=0.0003) and from CHF (100 vs 72.7%; p=0.008) during follow-up. At follow-up SR-patients demonstrated left atrial (preoperative 5.8+/-0.8 cm vs follow-up 5.1+/-0.9; p=0.013) and ventricular reverse remodelling (preoperative LVDd 5.7+/-1.1cm vs follow-up 5.2+/-1.1; p=0.048 - preoperative LVDs 4.0+/-1.4 vs follow-up 3.6+/-1.1; p=0.036). E/A ratio was normal in 73.1% (92.7% of SR-patients). TDI at the level of the left lateral annulus showed an improved left ventricular systole (Sm), and diastole (Em, E/Em) of SR-patients, compared with AF-patients (Sm 9.40+/-1.74 vs 7.72+/-1.5, p=0.0001; Em: 10.45+/-1.98 vs 7.68+/-0.72, p=0.001; E/Em: 0.07+/-0.02 vs 0.10+/-0.04, p=0.0001). Large preoperative atrial diameter (OR=5.81; p=0.002), preoperative NYHA-IV (OR=3.55; p=0.001), high diuretics at discharge (OR=1.27; p=0.03), tricuspid insufficiency at follow-up (OR=2.31; p=0.02) were independent predictors of AF-recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency AFAMVS achieves 78.8% of SR recovery. Maintenance of SR improves clinic, haemodynamic and echocardiographic endpoints. Pre- and post-operative cardiac failure is the main determinant of AF-recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit-Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. frankono@libero.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Onorati
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilotta
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borrello
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vatrano
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: di Virgilio
authors.forename: Maria Caterina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Comi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Perticone
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Renzulli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003971:Diastole; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D013599:Systole; D016276:Ventricular Function; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling