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. Eletrocardiografic 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.