[Intraoperative high frequency current ablation as therapy of atrial fibrillation. The Berlin modification]

The Cox-maze procedure combined with an operation for organic heart disease is highly successful in the elimination of chronic atrial fibrillation. However, it prolongs significantly the aortic cross-clamp and operating time. In this study, a simplified left atrial maze procedure, a short procedure performed using a surgical radiofrequency ablation probe, is added to elective open-heart procedures in patients with atrial fibrillation.

95 adults with atrial fibrillation (duration, 6 months to 33 years) underwent elective open heart operations (isolated valve procedures or coronary artery bypass grafting, n = 51 patients; combined procedures, n = 44 patients) combined with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of the left atrium. The postoperative follow-up period ranged from 1 to 24 months (mean, 8 months). Possible predictors for persistent postoperative atrial fibrillation were determined among 40 variables by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation prolonged the aortic cross-clamp time for 6-14 minutes (mean, 11 minutes). Freedom from atrial fibrillation was 100% intraoperatively, 30% at 1 week after operation, and 84% and 84% at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The only predictor of postoperative atrial fibrillation was the presence of coronary artery disease (odds ratio, 7.5; 80% confidence interval, 2.24-25.13).

Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation of the left atrium combined with an operation for organic heart disease effectively eliminates atrial fibrillation without significant prolongation of the aortic cross-clamp and operative time. The presence of coronary artery disease decreases the success rate during the first 6 postoperative months.