Limited posterior left atrial cryoablation in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation undergoing valvular heart surgery
Fiorenzo Gaita, MDa,
Roberto Gallotti, MD*,
Leonardo Calò, MDa,
Eric Manasse, MD*,
Riccardo Riccardi, MDa,
Lucia Garberoglio, MDa,
Francesco Nicolini, MD*,
Marco Scaglione, MDa,
Paolo Di Donna, MDa,
Domenico Caponi, MDa and
Giorgio Franciosi, MD*
a Division of Cardiology, Hospital of Asti, Asti, Italy; and
* Unit of Cardiac Surgery, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano (Milano), Italy
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Figure 1 Schema of the procedure. The four pulmonary veins were isolated and the left atrial appendage was excised. The lesion lines connected the four pulmonary veins and the right and left lower pulmonary veins to the posterior mitral annulus.
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Figure 2 The photomicrograph shows nuclear changes (arrow pointing left), irregular bands of contraction (arrow pointing right) and indistinct membranes (star) (Hematoxylin-eosin x 400)
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Figure 3 Follow-up results. Bar graph shows the number of patients in SR, expressed as percentage, in the AF/cryoablation group and in the control group at nine-month follow-up. Control alone = control subjects with no antiarrhythmic drugs; control total = control subjects with and without antiarrhythmic drugs; cryo alone = patients with cryoablation only; cryo + RFA = patients with cryoablation and RF ablation; cryo total = patients with cryoablation, RF ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs.
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Figure 4 Difference in outcome between the AF/cryoablation group and the control group during follow-up. Cryo total = patients with cryoablation, RF ablation and antiarrhythmic drugs; control total = control subjects with and without antiarrhythmic drugs.
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