Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Immediate results

Abstract

In USA, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the second leading cause of heart disease after high blood pressure, affecting 4 million Americans every year. In addition, atrial fibrillation doubles the risk of cardiovascular mortality from all causes. Rhythm control of AF requires drugs of low toxicity and many times is not enough. Material and Methods: Between 2000 and 2017, 27 patients were operated on due to atrial fibrillation; 18 concomitantly with off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB), 5 during a mitral valve surgery and 4 with a MINI MAZE for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Results: the operative mortality was 0%. The average hospitalization stay was 7.7 (+/- 4.6) for 14 of the coronary patients underwent microwave ablation, 72% were discharged with sinus hythm. Three of 4 with radiofrequency (68%) were discharged with sinus rhythm. Three of the mitral valve patients (68%) treated with radiofrequency were discharged with sinus rhythm, and 1 (50%) treated with microwaves was also in sinus rhythm. Three of 4 treated with MINI
MAZE procedure (68%) were discharged with sinus rhythm. Conclusions: This series of case reports show the reproducibility of different techniques.