Catheter ablation and surgical tneatment of atrial fibrillation with valvular heart disease

Abstract

Objective Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation(AF) has became another nonpharmacologic therapeutic option for valvular heart divine with AF. The modified Cox maze procedure was the traditional treatment of AF during cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study wss to compare the clinical outcomes of the two approaches in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease and AF. Methods From January 2004 to March 2006, patients with valvular heart disease with AF were inchuded. Catheter ablation(group 2) versus surgical treatment( group 1) for rheumatic heart disease with AF. Results Group 1 and 2 did not differ in terms of baseline characteristics. The perioperative mortality rate was not significantly different between the two groups. The maintenances of sinus rhythm were 90%, 82% respectively for group 2 in paroxysmal AF with LAd <50 mm, and case history < 1 year. The overall cumulative rate of sinus rhythm were75% in group 1 [(14±10) months] and 64% in group 2 [follow-up time, (14±10) months] , statistically significant. Conchusion The nsdiofrenquency (RF) ablation procedure during surgical treatment for valve heart disease with atrial fibrillation is a single, effective therapeutic option, allowing recovery of the sinus rhythm in the great majority of patients with atrial. fibrillation. While cstheter ablation is also a safe and effective means of curing atrial fibllation in paroxysmal AF with LAd <50 mm (<1 year). Key words: Atrial fibrillation; Heart valve diseases; Catheter ablation; Cardliac surgical procedures