Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Concomitant arrhythmia surgery in patients with congenital heart disease
Tanwier T T K Ramdjan1, Elisabeth M J P Mouws1,2, Charles Kik2
1Department of Cardiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Insights
Arrhythmia surgery in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients offers limited success, with a majority experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. Persistent AF and older age at surgery predict higher recurrence rates.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Atrial tachyarrhythmias like atrial fibrillation (AF) are common in congenital heart disease (CHD) patients.
- These patients often require multiple surgeries, but data on concomitant arrhythmia surgery effectiveness is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the outcomes of concomitant arrhythmia surgery for AF, atrial flutter (AFL), and intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia (IART) in patients with CHD.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 66 CHD patients undergoing concomitant arrhythmia surgery was analyzed.
- Follow-up data was collected to assess recurrence of AF, AFL, and IART.
Main Results:
- AF recurred in 67% of patients; late recurrence-free survival varied by AF type (71% for paroxysmal, 45% for persistent, 20% for long-standing persistent).
- Older age at surgery was an independent predictor of late AF recurrence.
- New-onset AFL/IART occurred in 17% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Concomitant arrhythmia surgery provides freedom from late AF recurrence for a minority of CHD patients.
- (Long-standing) persistent AF and older age at surgery are associated with increased recurrence rates.
Objectives:
Atrial tachyarrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL) and intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia (IART), occur frequently in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), who may undergo multiple surgical procedures throughout life. However, data on the effectiveness of concomitant arrhythmia surgery in CHD patients are scarce.
Methods:
Outcome of concomitant arrhythmia surgery for AF or AFL/IART was examined in 66 successive patients [31 men (47%); age at surgery: 56 ± 14 (24-78) years] with various CHD.
Results:
Concomitant arrhythmia surgery was performed in patients with a history of only AF (n = 46, 70%), only AFL/IART (n = 6, 9%) or a combination of AF and AFL/IART (n = 14, 21%). Median follow-up after arrhythmia surgery was 2 (1-4) years. AF reoccurred in 40 patients (67%), of whom 13 (22%) only had early recurrences; none of the patients with only AFL or IART prior to arrhythmia surgery developed AF after arrhythmia surgery. Recurrence-free survival of late AF was 4.6 years and differed according to the type of AF prior to surgery. Late recurrence-free survival at 3-year follow-up was 71% for paroxysmal AF, 45% for persistent AF and 20% for long-standing persistent AF (P = 0.047). Age at arrhythmia surgery was an independent predictor for late AF recurrence (odds ratio 1.05, P = 0.006). AFL/IART occurred in 17 patients (26%) after arrhythmia surgery, which was de novo in 11 patients (17%).
Conclusions:
Arrhythmia surgery in CHD patients results in freedom from late AF recurrence for a small majority of patients after median follow-up of 2 years. (Long-standing) persistent AF and older age at arrhythmia surgery are related to higher recurrence rates.
Related Concept Videos
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias I: Sinus Arrhythmias
Types of Arrhythmias
Sinus Node Arrhythmias
Sinus Bradycardia: Originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node, sinus bradycardia involves slower impulses, resulting in a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute (bpm). Causes include sleep, vagal stimulation, beta-blockers, hypothyroidism,...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Ischemic Heart Disease: Overview
Atherosclerosis, the primary malefactor, orchestrates this dangerous condition. It manifests as the accumulation of fatty deposits, akin to insidious plaques, within arterial walls. As time elapses, these plaques metamorphose, hardening and...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Rheumatic Heart Disease III: Medical Management

