Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation during mitral-valve surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Among patients undergoing mitral-valve surgery, 30 to 50% present with atrial fibrillation, which is associated with reduced survival and increased risk of stroke. Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation has been widely adopted, but evidence regarding its safety and effectiveness is limited.

Methods

We randomly assigned 260 patients with persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation who required mitral-valve surgery to undergo either surgical ablation (ablation group) or no ablation (control group) during the mitral-valve operation. Patients in the ablation group underwent further randomization to pulmonary-vein isolation or a biatrial maze procedure. All patients underwent closure of the left atrial appendage. The primary end point was freedom from

SUBMITTER: Gillinov AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4664179 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature