Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation in the beating heart: a novel approach

• Published in: Italian heart journal Vol. 4; no. 12; p. 872
• Main Authors: Manasse, Eric, Barbone, Alessandro, Ghiselli, Simone, Citterio, Enrico, Eusebio, Alessandro, Silvaggio, Giuseppe, Ornaghi, Diego, Gallotti, Roberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01-12-2003
• Subjects: Atrial Fibrillation - surgery; Catheter Ablation - methods; Electromagnetic Fields; Humans; Incidence; Microwaves; Pericardium - surgery; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Reproducibility of Results
• ISSN: 1129-471X

Up to 50% of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery have concomitant atrial fibrillation. An epicardial approach may offer the benefit of reducing the aortic cross-clamping time and avoiding an undue left atriotomy. During the last year we have been developing a simple technique to reproduce epicardially the same lesion pattern we had previously achieved endocardially. Two patients with chronic atrial fibrillation received atrial ablation using a microwave energy probe (Flex-10, AFx Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) immediately before undergoing a concomitant cardiac procedure. The procedure is relatively quick to perform and with appropriate care can be conducted with a low risk of perioperative adverse events.