Ensuring transmurality using irrigated radiofrequency modified maze in surgery for atrial fibrillation--a simple and...

Transmural lesions are ensured with the cut and sew technique and with bipolar delivery of radiofrequency (RF) energy [Ann. Thorac. Surg. 74 (2002) 2210]. Unipolar sources of energy such as radiofrequency and microwave do not guarantee transmurality and may require intraoperative testing to evaluate complete lesion depth. Transmural lesions are generally effective electrophysiological lesions and are desirable as it does not allow atrial fibrillation (AF) breakthrough or development of atrial flutter in most instances. We describe a simple and effective way of ensuring transmurality using irrigated radiofrequency in the modified maze surgery for AF.