A left atrial ablation with bipolar irrigated radio-frequency for atrial fibrillation during minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.
Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. Mitral valve disease is often associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), also due to the ageing of the population. We present a technique to perform a left atrial ablation with bipolar irrigated radio-frequency (RF) through a single right thoracotomy. We have operated on eight patients: six female with a mean age 68+/-8 years. Six patients suffered from permanent AF and other two from paroxysmal AF.
Solinas
Marco
M
Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery, "Monasterio Foundation", Heart Hospital, Via Aurelia Sud, 54100 Massa, Italy. solinas@ifc.cnr.it
Bevilacqua
Stefano
S
Karimov
Jamshid H
JH
Glauber
Mattia
M
D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000379:methods