Ablation of atrial fibrillation using microwave energy early experience

Abstract AR

Objectives .: This is a description of the experience of the Damascus University Cardiovasular Surgical Center with the use of microwave energy to ablate atrial fibrillation.

Methods : Between December 12, 2002 and December 29, 2003, 55 operative patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) were subjected to AF ablation with microwave energy.

Thirty-five were female; the ages ranged between 20 and 72 years with a mean of 44.3 yrs.

Forty-six had endocardial and 9 had epicardial ablation.

Forty-nine suffered from mitral valve disease; 24 had concomitant tricuspid regurgitation, and six had concomitant aortic disease.

Two had coronary artery disease, 3 had atrial septal defect, and one had left atrial myxoma as the primary cardiac lesion.

Results: Forty five patients (81.8%) had their AF converted to sinus rhythm immediately after surgery.

Amiodarone or sotalol was used in all postoperative patients for 6 months, except in 6 cases with bradycardia.

Electrical defibrillation was utilized in cases of atrial flutter or persistent AF.

Thirty-two patients were followed for at least 6 months.

Twenty-six of them (81.3%) are now in sinus rhythm.

Operative mortality was 2 (3.6%), and there were no major untoward postoperative events.

Conclusion: We believe microwave ablation is a satisfactory and safe method of treatment forAF, and because it is brief, it can be added to surgical procedures without undue risk to the patient.