title: Radiofrequency ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia which represents a major public health problem. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the Radiofrequency (RF) ablation effects in the patients with chronic AF scheduled for cardiac surgery because of different heart diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive and prospective study was conducted on 60 patients with AF scheduled for surgery along with RF ablation. The data were collected by questionnaire and included: patients' age, sex, NYHA class, operation type, past medical history, type and cause of valvular heart disease, preoperative ECG (electrocardiogram), duration of surgery, clamping time, cardiopulmonary bypass, and RF ablation time. RF ablation was followed by the main operation. The follow up examination, ECG, and echocardiography were performed 3 and 6 months after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients was 48±10 years (18-71 years). Forty one patients had permanent AF and 19 had the persistent AF. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 48.27±9.75 percent before operation, and reached to 56.27±7.87 percent after the surgery (P<0.001). The mean NYHA class before the surgery was 2.83±0.68 which decreased to 1.34±0.46 6 months after the surgery with RF ablation (P<0.001). One patient (1.6%) died after surgery. Complete relief and freedom from AF recurrence was observed in 70% of patients in the mean follow up in 7 months after the surgery. The sinus rhythm with efficient atrial contraction was established in 100% of discharged patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RF ablation is an effective procedure to cure atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgeries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Shahid Madani Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Safaei
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Montazerghaem
authors.forename: Rasoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Azarfarin
authors.forename: Azin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alizadehasl
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alikhah
keywords: Arrhythmia; Atrial fibrillation; Radiofrequency ablation; Sinus rhythm