Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of a modified simultaneous unipolar saline-irrigated radiofrequency ablation by intracardiac operation under direct vision in patients with mitral valve diseases combined with atrial fibrillation (AF).
Methods: A total of 168 patients with mitral valve diseases combined with AF who underwent unipolar saline-irrigated radiofrequency ablation modified maze procedures were enrolled and divided into the mitral stenosis (MS) group (n = 87) and the mitral insufficiency (MI) group (n = 81).
Results: Those with a left atrium diameter (LAD) < 55 mm had a better cardioversion effect during the mid-term post-operation than those with a LAD ≥ 55 mm (P < 0.05). The cardioversion effect during the mid-term post-operation was better in those with a duration of AF < 2 years than those with AF ≥ 2 years (P < 0.05). The LAD reduced significantly during the early postoperative period in the MS group (P < 0.05). Compared with the early postoperative period, LAD further reduced, and the EF increased significantly during the mid-term post-operation (P< 0.05). The LAD reduced significantly during the early postoperative period in the MI group (P < 0.05), together with relatively decreased EF (P < 0.05). Compared with the early postoperative period, LAD further reduced, and the EF increased significantly during the mid-term post-operation (P< 0.05). The improvement of LAD in the MI group during the mid-term post-operation was better than that in the MS group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The cardioversion effects and the improvement in cardiac function during the mid-term post-operation were good in the radiofrequency ablation by intracardiac operation under direct vision in patients with different mitral valve diseases combined with AF. The cardioversion effects during the early postoperative period and the mid-term post-operation were better in patients with MI than in those with MS.
Keywords: mitral stenosis, mitral insufficiency, atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency ablation, therapeutic effect