A Study Of Atrial Fibrillation Treatment By Amiodarone After Bipolar Radiofrequency Ablation Modified MazeⅢ Procedure

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of amiodarone treatment afterCox-maze III procedure using bipolar radiofrequency ablation in chronic atrialfibrillation associated with organic heart disease.Methods: From June2009to December2010, fifty-nine patients haveundergone organic heart surgery with bipolar radiofrequency ablationCox-maze III procedure. All patients had persistent or permanent atrialfibrillation preoperatively, including40cases who sustain more than10yearshistory of atrial fibrillation. Postoperative follow-up duration was9.6±47.4months.Postoperative amiodarone treatment is routine. We conclude the earlyand long-term Sinus rhythm conversion rate postoperatively,by the regularlyECG examination.Results: There were two postoperative deaths because of low cardiacoutput symdromes.There were6cases failed to follow-up in the mid orlong-term,51cases remains. Freedom from atrial fibrillation rate atpostoperative six-month was79.5%. contrast the Preoperative ejection fractionon echocardiography was55.5±8.6%and ejection fraction of postoperative3-6month was56.5±7.0%. Left atrial size of preoperative and postoperative were53.1±12.5mm and51.7±9.8mm at each.there were no significantdifferences.between two groups of patients whether have Afib or not at3monthafter operation，among gender, age, preoperative left atrial size, tricuspidreverse flow, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation (CPB) time and Aortacross clamp (ACC) time。Conclusion: amiodarone treatment after Cox-maze III procedure usingbipolar radiofrequency ablation is quite safe and freedom from atrial fibrillation at postoperative6month was79.5%. amiodarone treatment after Cox-maze IIIprocedure can reduce the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation.Independent riskfactors for recurrence of atrial fibrillation after Cox-maze III procedure did notfound in our study.