The true atrial fibrillation burden after the Cox-Maze-III Cryo procedure in high risk patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation - first report of event recorder documented continuous heart rhythm follow-up

Abstract

Aims: Atrial fibrillation therapy in patients with concomitant structural heart disease and a long history of atrial fibrillation remains challenging with respect to postoperative morbidity and ablation success. Thus far, rhythm documentation has only been performed by intermittent snapshot strategies. This is the first report of continuous heart rhythm documentation after concomitant and stand alone classical biatrial ablation (full Cox-Maze-III-Cryo lesion set) AF surgical therapy, with a new wireless implantable loop recorder or pacemaker device.