title: Surgical biatrial ablation of atrial fibrillation: initial results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the results of intraoperative radiofrequency ablation with biatrial procedure in the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation in patients with associated cardiac disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2008 and May 2009, 15 consecutive patients were underwent mitral valve procedure plus modified radiofrequency biatrial ablation of chronic atrial fibrillation. The mean age was 47.73 +/- 9.85 years and 60% were male. The mean left atrial diameter was 55.06 +/- 7.56 mm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no hospital mortality or complications related to radiofrequency ablation. The mean follow-up period was 7 +/- 4 months. At the time of hospital discharge nine (60%) patients were in sinus rhythm. After a mean follow-up period 11 (73.3%) were in sinus rhythm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intraoperative biatrial radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation, with satisfactory midterms outcomes in terms of conversion to sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Surgery Service, Mário Covas State Hospital, Cardiovascular Surgery Discipline from ABC Medical School (FMABC), Santo André, SP, Brazil. jrbreda@hotmail.com
authors.forename: João Roberto
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: Ricardo Gitti
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ragognette
authors.forename: Ana Silvia Castaldi Ragognetti
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: Danilo Bortolloto
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Gurian
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horiuti
authors.forename: Leandro Neves
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Andréa Cristina de Oliveira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Adilson Casemiro
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Pires
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome