.

ISSN 2063-5346
For urgent queries please contact : +918130348310

CONCOMITANT SURGICAL ABLATION OF THE LEFT ATRIUM (LA) USING ELECTROCAUTERY (DIATHERMY) IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING MITRAL VALVE (MV) SURGERY WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AF); WAS IT EFFECTIVE IN RESTORING SINUS RHYTHM?

Main Article Content

Ahmed H. Lamloum*1 , Ihab Mohamed Salah Eldin Elsharkawy1 , Tarek Helmy1 , M. ElZayadi2 , Ahmed M. Elwakeel1 , Hisham Mohamed Elbatanony3
» doi: 10.31838/ecb/2023.12.s1-B.254

Abstract

Background: Concurrent surgical ablation of the left atrium during a mitral valve surgery has been accepted as a reliable treatment approach for attempting to restore the patient's own sinus rhythm. However, there is no clear favorite ablation procedure among those described in the literature. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of surgical ablation with low-voltage electrocautery in reverting AF to sinus rhythm, as well as its short- and mid-term clinical benefits in patients undergoing MV surgery. Patients and methods: We studied 162 cases of chronic MV disease with permanent AF that were operated on at Cairo University, Fayoum University and Beniseuf University Hospitals between March 2016 and February 2021. All cases were diagnosed with AF at least six months before the operation. Patients then were subdivided int two groups; group A or the ablation group that included 80 patients and group B or non-ablation group which comprised 82 patients. Data on postoperative mortality and morbidity, including cardiac rhythm, heart failure, thromboembolic events, and echocardiographic studies, were recorded and analyzed. Results: At 1.15 + 0.58 years of follow-up, group A had significantly lower rates of atrial arrhythmias, late mortality from cardiac causes, thromboembolic events, and hospitalization for heart failure than group B (P value 0.05). There were no significant differences in terms of early mortality or the necessity for a pacemaker. Conclusion: Surgical ablation for AF using low-voltage electrocautery during an operation for mitral valve disease is effective in decreasing postoperative atrial arrhythmias and their worse outcomes.

Article Details