[Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation using radiofrequency].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative atrial fibrillation ablation using radiofrequency during mitral valve procedure. This report describes the early and midterms results.


METHODS
Between September 2003 and September 2005, 15 patients with mitral disease were operated. All patients were in chronic atrial fibrillation and with congestive symptoms despite full medication. The patients were analysed according to clinical criteria, electrical and echocardiographic findings.


RESULTS
There were no hospital mortality or complications related to radiofrequency ablation. The mean follow-up period was 12.16 +/- 10.29 months. All patients left operating room in sinus rhythm, however, before hospital discharge, only nine (60%) were in regular cardiac rhythm. During follow-up, two patients presented atrial fibrillation recurrence and currently seven (46.7%) keep sinus rhythm.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite low morbimortality related to the procedure, initial results in this report showed a less effectiveness of this technique when compared with other papers.
Breda
João Roberto
JR
Hospital de Ensino da Faculdade de Medicina do ABC e Hospital Estadual Mário Covas, Santo André, SP, Brasil. jrbreda@hotmail.com
Breda
Ana Silvia Castaldi Ragognetti
AS
Meneguini
Adriano
A
Freitas
Andréa Cristina Oliveira
AC
Pires
Adilson Casemiro
AC
D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult