title: Videothoracoscopy for isolated atrial fibrillation ablation through bipolar radiofrequency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of atrial fibrillation, expenses with the healthcare system and the associated high morbidity and mortality have justified the search for new therapeutic approaches.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reproducibility of the surgical technique, its safety and the initial outcome of the video-assisted surgery for the isolated atrial fibrillation ablation with bipolar radiofrequency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients (90% men) with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (50% paroxystic type) that was refractory to drug therapy, with no heart disease that required concomitant surgical treatment, were submitted to arrhythmia ablation guided by thoracoscopy from May 2007 to May 2008. Clinical, laboratory and image variables were prospectively collected before, during surgery and at the postoperative follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The surgery was carried out as planned in all patients. There was no intra-thoracic structure iatrogenic lesion or deaths. At the mean 6-month follow-up, 80% of the patients were free of atrial fibrillation. There was a significant improvement in the symptoms of New York Heart Association Functional Class heart failure (2.4 + or - 0.5 to 1.6 + or - 0.7; p = 0.011). There was no evidence of pulmonary vein stenosis at the angiotomography in this series.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The video-assisted surgery for the treatment of atrial fibrillation is reproducible and safe. There is a heart failure symptom evolution improvement after the surgery.
authors: Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. acolafranceschi@hotmail.com
authors: Alexandre Siciliano
authors: AS
authors: Colafranceschi
authors: Andrey José de Oliveira
authors: AJ
authors: Monteiro
authors: Eduardo Souza Leal
authors: ES
authors: Botelho
authors: Leonardo Secchin
authors: LS
authors: Canale
authors: Arnaldo
authors: A
authors: Rabischoffsky
authors: Ieda Prata
authors: IP
authors: Costa
authors: Fernando Eugênio dos Santos
authors: FE
authors: Cruz Filho
authors: Roberto Luiz Menssing da Silva
authors: RL
authors: Sá
authors: Ana Luiza
authors: AL
authors: Boechat
authors: Luis Alberto Oliveira
authors: LA
authors: Dallan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome