title: Comparison of uniatrial and biatrial radiofrequency ablation procedures in atrial fibrillation: initial results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most commonly sustained cardiac rhythm disturbance. Surgical ablation techniques were developed involving the left atrium only and modifications of the maze procedure in ablating both atria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare, in patients with permanent AF, the efficacy of uniatrial versus biatrial radiofrequency ablation procedure in the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation in patients with associated cardiac disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2003 and May 2009, 30 patients were submitted to the radiofrequency ablation procedure for AF associated with concomitant cardiac surgery; 15 patients underwent a uniatrial procedure, and 15 patients underwent biatrial ablation. The mean age was 47.73 ± 9.85 years, and 53.4% were men. The average followup time was 12.16 ± 10.89 months for the uniatrial group and 7.0 ± 4.0 months for the biatrial group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither hospital mortality nor complications related to radiofrequency ablation were was registered. At the time of hospital discharge, 9 patients (60%) were in a state of sinus rhythm in both groups. However, patients undergoing biatrial ablation (range 73.3% versus 46.7%) demonstrated complete freedom from atrial fibrillation at all times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biatrial ablation surgical procedures were more effective in controlling atrial fibrillation than procedures limited to the left atrium.
authors: Cardiovascular Surgery Division, ABC Medical School, Santo André, São Paulo, Brazil. jrbreda@hotmail.com
authors: João Roberto
authors: JR
authors: Breda
authors: Ana Silvia Castaldi Ragognetti
authors: AS
authors: Breda
authors: Ricardo Gitti
authors: RG
authors: Ragognette
authors: Leandro Neves
authors: LN
authors: Machado
authors: Charles Benjamin
authors: CB
authors: Neff
authors: Leandro Luongo
authors: LL
authors: de Matos
authors: Adriano
authors: A
authors: Meneghine
authors: Adilson Casemiro
authors: AC
authors: Pires
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000601:surgery*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents