[Left Atrial-only Surgical Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation During Mitral Valve Surgery].

Concomitant left atrial( LA)-only surgical ablation( SAB) of atrial fibrillation( AF) with mitral valve procedure was performed in nine cases with radiofrequency ablation devices. LA-SAB includes connected bilateral pulmonary vein isolations, mitral isthmus ablation, and LA appendage ablation and occlusion at its base. There were no such adverse events as 30-day mortality, thromboembolic event, permanent pacemaker implantation, readmission due to heart failure, or cardiac death (follow-up:mean:10±5 years, range:0.75~15 years). Freedom from AF without classⅠ/Ⅲ antiarrhythmic drugs at six months was 77.8%(7 of 9 cases), and sinus rhythm (SR) has been maintained more than 10 years in 4 of those 7 cases. In one of two postoperative AF cases, SR recovery was confirmed four years after surgery, and AF has not been detected for three years. LA-SAB is considered to be safe, effective, and feasible, although further investigation and patient selection are needed.