title: Left ventricular diastolic function and right atrial size are important rhythm outcome predictors after intraoperative ablation for atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and right atrial (RA) size are not routinely included in preoperative echocardiographic examination in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with concomitant ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of echocardiographic variables including LV diastolic function and RA area in long-term rhythm outcome prediction, in patients with documented AF undergoing intraoperative ablation concomitant to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five consecutive patients, scheduled for CABG, and with a history of paroxysmal or permanent AF for 8.5 ± 11.3 years (mean ± SD) (median 5.8 years), were included in this prospective study. Echocardiography was performed prior to and 2.3 ± 0.4 years after the surgical procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both LA and RA areas, LV diastolic function, paroxysmal AF, and sinus rhythm (SR) preoperatively were associated with SR at long-term follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, RA area (P = 0.004), and decreased LV diastolic function preoperatively, measured as the maximal LV long-axis relaxation velocity (P = 0.02), predicted SR at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RA size and LV diastolic function may be important variables in prediction of long-term rhythm outcome after intraoperative ablation for AF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. birgitta.houltz@medfak.gu.se
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Houltz
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berglin
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.forename: Nils
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Edvardsson
authors.forename: Birger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wandt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D011379:Prognosis; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*