Comparison of the results of irrigated monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency ablation for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhytmia leading to thromboemboli, cardiac failure and hemodynamic instability. Surgical `maze procedure? is the gold standart with high success rate, but it is complex and difficult procedure. Surgical ablation with irrigated monopolar and bipolar radiofrequency energy are two of the alternative methods for this procedure with reasonable success rates. The purpose of this study is to compare the results of monopolar and bipolar irrigated RF ablation in patients with a history of AF for more than 6 months. Postoperative rhythm status, atrial transport function, functional classes, morbidity and mortality were studied retrospectively for both groups.All patients are screened for the presence of atrial transport function with transthoracic echocardiography after documentation of the sinus rhythm. Folow-up time and rate of sinus rhythm in Group I and group II were 11,5±4 months and 83,3 % and 9,3 ± 3,2 months and 68,8 % respectively. Atrial transport function for group I and group II were 76 % and 72 %. In each group, only one patient has undergone to the permanent pacemaker implantation (3,4 % and 3,1 %). Aortic clemp and perfusion time in group I were longer than the other group (p=0,006, p=0,001). There was only one late mortality (3,2 %) after monopolar ablation. In this study, no significant difference was seen between two ablation procedures in terms of postop morbidity and mortality. rrigated monopolar and bipolar RF ablation are both safe and effective procedures for the patients undergoing open heart surgery with chronic AF.