Long-term Results of MCG Map-guide Minimal AF Surgery in the Patients Who Has a Long-standing Persistent AF

Background: AF is known as an irregular electrical activity in atrial wall. Maze procedure for blocking macro-nodular reentry and EP ablation for lesion sets (such as CFAE, PV or non PV foci) shows good clinical successes, however their long-term results are still remained unsuccessful. To overcome this, we introduced the the magnetocardiography action potential activity mapping-guide minimal AF surgery.

Methods: We utilized a high sensitive low-Tc 64-channel MCG system, non-contact and higher sensitive method to detect atrial F-wave. From 2006 June to 2008 June, we conducted the MCG map-guide minimal AF surgery in 8 long-standing persistent AF patients. Their median age was 63 years old (range 46-72) and male is 88% (7 of 8). Preoperative AF duration is 17 months (range 0-46), according to the available EKG records and AF burden is 1.0. Their underlying diseases were all structural heart disease: valvular heart disease in 7 and coronary artery disease in 1, respectively. LA size is 60mm (range 45-80) and LVEF is 54% (range 36-69).

Results: The 8 structural heart disease AF patients had been underwent MCG map-guide minimal AF surgery thru cut-and-saw and cryoablation methods under the cardiac arrest status. The patients show AF-free rhythms in 7 of 8 patients at 9.899, 9.704, 6.797, 6.619, 1.984, 0.468, and 0.058 years follow-up periods, respectively. There are no sick sinus syndrome, no permanent pacemaker insertion cases.

Conclusion: MCG map-guide minimal AF surgery is a feasible method to treat AF with acceptable long-term results.