title: Evaluation of atrial function after surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation: a Speckle tracking study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  AIM of our study was to assess atrial function in patients who underwent atrial fibrillation (AF) surgical ablation by a novel echocardiographic technique (speckle tracking).
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2006 to April 2008, in 11 consecutive pts with paroxysmal or persistent AF (6 males, mean age 69.6±9.7 years) undergoing cardiac surgery, concomitant AF surgical ablation was performed with bipolar radiofrequency clamp (Cobra_Bipolar® system). These pts, all in stable sinus rhythm (SR), were echoed after a mean follow-up of 14.6±9.3 months from surgery. Speckle tracking was used to estimate global LA strain, peak strain and the standard deviation of the time-to-peak (% of R-R' interval) of the deformation of 6 segments identified along the septum, the roof and the lateral wall of LA in a 4-chamber view.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These patients showed a mild LA enlargement (mean volume 43.4±11.6 mL/sqm). In 5 of them (45.4%) no A waves were detected on MPWD and pulmonary venous flow, but speckle tracking showed preserved atrial function with a mean global strain of 5.5 ± 3.3 %, a mean peak strain of 10.4 ± 5.7 % and a TP-SD of 15.1±8.7 ms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study seems to show that surgical AF ablation has a lower impact on atrial function in comparison with data from literature about percutaneous catheter ablation. This is probably related to an higher sensitivity of this type of echocardiography evaluation, but this finding must be confirmed by other trials.
authors: Cardiology Unit, St. Andrea Hospital, Vercelli, Italy. elisa.rondano@virgilio.it
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Rondano
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bortnik
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Occhetta
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Teodori
authors: P P
authors: PP
authors: Caimmi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Marino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016275:Atrial Function; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography