Background: Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is widely used concomitant procedure with mitral and other surgical interventions. The place of AF surgery as a stand-alone procedure remains to be determined.
Methods: Between 2012 and 2014 authors performed surgical ablation of lone AF in 11 patients using the same technique of right minithoracothomy, cardiopulmonary bypss and aortic cross-clamping with cardioplegic arrest. Ablation was performed using cryoprobe in the open left atrium. Patients were 56±10 years old. 8 patients had persistent and 3 long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. No patients had paroxysnmal AF. 2 patients had left atrial volume >200 cc. Six patients had AF for more than 5 years before ablation. 8 patients underwent at least 1 catheter ablation in the past.
Results: There was no morbidity and mortality. All patients were dismissed within a week in sinus rhythm with no Amiodarone or other anthyarrhythmics. All were in sinus rhythm at 6 months follow up. Only 1 patient was on Amoidarone.
Conclusions: Surgical ablation of lone atrial fibrillation gives excellent freedom from AF, antiarrhythmic medications at early follow up
