Atrial fibrillation surgery simplified with cryoablation to improve left atrial function

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 1479 - 1483
• Main Authors: Lee, Jae Won, Choo, Suk Jung, Kim, Kun Il, Song, Jae Kwan, Kang, Duk Hyun, Song, Jong Min, Song, Hyun, Lee, Sang Kwon, Song, Meong Gun
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2001; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Atrial Fibrillation - surgery; Atrial Function; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Cryosurgery; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Tropical medicine; 24; Human; Arrhythmia; Cryosurgery; Treatment efficiency; Atrial fibrillation; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Left atrium; Excitability disorder; Functional recovery; Treatment; Heart disease; Surgery; Hemodynamics; Technique; Left atrial function; Left ventricle performance; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(01)03176-9

Background. The Maze procedure restores atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. However, concurrent left atrial functional recovery is not always achieved. To address this limitation, a modification using linear cryo-ablation is described. Methods. Between July 1997 and December 1999, 83 patients received atrial fibrillation surgery in association with mitral valve surgery with or without additional concurrent procedures by either the conventional technique, group I (n = 30) or the modified technique, group II (n = 53). Onset of sinus conversion and echocardiographic assessment of postoperative left ventricular function, left atrial size, and mitral A-wave velocity were compared in the early postoperative period and 6 months after surgery. Results. Sinus conversion occurred significantly earlier in group II, 2.4 ± 5 days versus group I, 7.0 ± 10 days. The mean transmitral A-wave velocity and the incidence of A-wave appearance in the early postoperative period and 6 months postoperatively were greater in group II than group I. Conclusions. With the current modification, restoration of sinus rhythm and superior left atrial contractile function occurred earlier than with the standard Maze III technique.