title: Radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation in rheumatic valvular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We have reviewed the results of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with rheumatic valve disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven patients underwent operation for rheumatic valvular disease and RFA concomitantly with the planned procedure. Twenty-two (32.8%) were male and 45 (67.2%) female. The mean duration of atrial fibrillation (AF) was 47.4+/-30.4 months (12-192). Logistic regression test was used to perform a risk factor analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients died postoperatively (3.0%) and 3 died in the follow-up period (4.5%). One patient (1.5%) required permanent pacemaker. During the hospitalisation, 24 patients (35.8%) had AF but 6 of them returned to the normal sinus rhythm by the time of discharge. Forty-nine patients (73.1%) were discharged with normal sinus rhythm. The mean duration of follow-up was 15.1+/-15.2 months (0-59). Six patients (9.0%) had recurrent AF during the follow-up period. For early AF recurrence male sex was a significant risk factor (p=0.028) with an odds ratio 8627 (CI 95% 1261-59,006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low sinus rhythm rate at discharge and high rates of recurrence may be attributed to the disease nature. Males are at increased risk of early AF recurrence but no significant risk factors for late recurrence have been found.
authors.affiliation: Kartal Kosuyolu Heart and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mataraci
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.forename: Cemalettin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirali
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology