This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Fernando Hornero Sergio Canovas Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hornero, F. Articles by Bueno, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hornero, F. Articles by Bueno, M. Related Collections Electrophysiology - arrhythmias

Biatrial radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation: epicardial and endocardial surgical approach

Cardiac Surgery Department of the University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain

^* Corresponding author. Tel.: +34-96-386-2900 ext. 52396; fax: +34-96-386-2982
hornero_fer{at}gva.es

Radiofrequency energy applied by means of surgical probes permits the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study presents our initial experience on 55 consecutive cardiac patients with permanent AF with radiofrequency ablation through biatrial epicardial and endocardial surgical approach. At discharge, 8.1% of the patients had persistent AF-atrial flutter. Hospital incidence of arrhythmias were, 9% of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, 10.9% of atrial flutter, and 34.5% of persistent atrial fibrillation. After a mean follow-up of 7 months, 83.6% patients have recovered sinus rhythm, and echocardiographic biatrial contraction was re-established in 73%. Biatrial radiofrequency ablation applied from the endocardium and the epicardium has achieved satisfactory results, without increasing the surgical risk.

Key Words: Atrial fibrillation; Surgery; Radiofrequency

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Martin-Suarez, B. Claysset, L. Botta, M. Ferlito, D. Pacini, C. Savini, G. Marinelli, and R. DiBartolomeo Surgery for atrial fibrillation with radiofrequency ablation: four years experience Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, February 1, 2007; 6(1): 71 - 76. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]