2Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic, Türkiye Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
3Clinic of Cardiology, Gözde Hospital, Malatya-Turkey
4Department of Cardiovascular Surgery Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study is to find out the efficacy of radiofrequency catheter atrial ablation (RF) simultaneously done with mitral valve replacement (MVR) surgery in patients having rheumatic mitral valve disease with chronic atrial fibrillation and to evaluate the short-term postoperative results. Materials and Methods: Seventeen patients underwent MVR surgery and intraoperative RFA were done simultaneously to eight of these patients whe- reas remaining nine of them were assigned to control group. Patients were assessed preoperatively, at time of discharge, and 1th, 6th and 12th months controls. Atrial and ventricular functions were evaluated with echocardiography, serum atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels were investigated and electrocardiograms were recorded in all patients. Results: Demographically there were no significant differences between two groups. Radiofrequency ablation group had longer aortic cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass times. Sinus rhythm was established in seven patients of RF group at postoperative 12th month. However, all patients of this group experienced sinus rhythm at postoperative sixth month whereas 'atrial kick' was detected in five of them. Significantly increased ejection fraction, decreased pulmonary artery pressure and decreased left atrial diameter were ob- served in RF group compared to control group. Serum ANP levels were found to be significantly decreased as compared to preoperative periods in both groups. Conclusion: Although RF ablation has higher costs, this technique is efficient and useful to restore the sinus rhythm and to recover the atrial functions back in patients having rheumatic mitral valve disease.