SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION WITH MAZE PROCEDURE BY RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION

Objective To compare the results of treatment of atrial fibrillation ( Af) with maze procedure by radiofrequency in 25 patients undergoing mi tral valve replacement operation (MVRO) (treatment group) with those i n 25 patients undergoing MVRO only (control group). Methods The maze p rocedure modified was completed by radiofrequency ablation with macros copy during MVRO in the treatment group, whereas the patients in the c ontrol group underwent MVRO only. No one in the two groups took antiar rhythmic drugs before and after operation. Results The heart rhythm be came stable sinus rhythm in 22 of 25 patients of the treatment group a fter operation and the success rate was 88.0%. Af recurred in none of the 22 patients during the follow-up for 3 - 24 months. In the control group, 5 patients showed transient sinus rhythm, but Af recurred when they left hospital. Conclusions Maze procedure by radiofrequency abla tion is an effective method to cure Af and its success rate was the sa me as that of surgical incision and clyolesion. But the former took 10 - 15 minutes only with light damage of atrial muscle and no bleeding, whereas the latter took 1- 1.5 hours.