title: Surgical RF ablation of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing mitral valve repair for Barlow disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  At present, limited experience exists on the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing mitral valve repair (MVR) for Barlow disease. The aim of this investigation was to prospectively evaluate the radiofrequency ablation of AF in patients undergoing MVR for severe regurgitation due to Barlow disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010, out of 85 consecutive patients with Barlow disease, 27 with AF underwent RF ablation associated with MVR. They were examined every 4 months in the first year after surgery and thereafter twice yearly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, AF was observed in 4/25 (16.0%). NYHA (New York Heart Association) functional class improved significantly, with no patients in class III or IV (before surgery, 81.5% had been). Otherwise, among 58 patients in sinus rhythm, 6 (11%) developed AF during follow-up. No clinical or echocardiographic predictive factor was found in this subgroup.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from our investigation suggest that radiofrequency ablation of AF in patients with Barlow disease undergoing MVR for severe regurgitation is effective and should be considered in every patient with Barlow disease and AF undergoing valve surgical repair.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento Area Critica Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy. carlo.rostagno@unifi.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rostagno
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Droandi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelsomino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carone
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gensini
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Stefàno
mesh_terms: D055011:Ablation Techniques; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D058386:Mitral Valve Annuloplasty; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies