Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation using bipolar radiofrequency ablation in rheumatic mitral disease.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the effectiveness of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) using bipolar radiofrequency ablation during mitral valve procedures of rheumatic etiology in heart surgery. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed medical registries of 53 patients submitted to atrial ablation with bipolar radiofrequency energy during mitral valve surgery. Thirty four (64%) patients were women and the age varied from 27 to 72 years old (average: 49.3 ± 10.7 years). Aortic and/or tricuspid procedures were also present in 36 (68%) patients. Average time of reported atrial fibrillation was 41 months (from 3 to 192 months). Type of AF was classified as: paroxysmal in 8 patients, persistent in 3, permanent in 42. Left atrium had an average size of 52.9 ± 8.5 mm. The surgeries in these series were: 47 mitral valve replacements and 6 mitral valve repairs. Electrocardiografic follow up was 83% complete in 14 months. Data from 24h Holter were explored. RESULTS Seven (13%) perioperative deaths were observed and survival after 14 months was 87%. Observed heart rhythm after 1 year of surgery was sinus rhythm in 25 (66%) patients, AF in 7 (18%), flutter in 7 (13%), junctional in 1 (3%). CONCLUSION Bipolar radiofrequency ablation in patients submitted to mitral valve surgery of rheumatic etiology is effective in converting to sinus rhythm in 68% of patients after 14 months.