Background and aim of the study: The study aim was to evaluate the efficacy of left atrial (LA) size reduction combined with radiofrequency (RF) ablation in the treatment of continuous atrial fibrillation (AF), by comparative analysis of the outcomes of patients undergoing RF ablation with and without LA size reduction.
Methods: A total of 46 patients with continuous AF and cardiac disease underwent cardiac surgery and RF ablation alone (group I, n = 20) or combined with LA size reduction (group II, n = 26). Patients were followed for three years postoperatively, with evaluation of cardiac rhythm, neurological complications, LA size (by echocardiography) and atrial contractility.
Results: At three years after surgery, sinus rhythm

(SR) was restored in 61.1% and 70% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. Mean LA diameter was reduced from 60 ± 15 mm to 57 ± 5 mm in group I, and from 69 ± 19 mm to 55 ± 6 mm in group II. The overall three-year survival was 90% in group I, and 88.5% in group II. Three-year freedom from stroke was 88.9% and 86.2% in groups I and II, respectively. Two patients in each group received transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation. Atrial contractility was recovered in all patients with stable SR.
Conclusion: LA size reduction improves SR conversion rate after RF ablation for continuous AF in patients undergoing concomitant cardiac surgery.

The Journal of Heart Valve Disease 2007;16:126-131