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12-04-2024 | Atrial Fibrillation | Original Article

Safety and outcomes of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation in emergency surgery cases

Authors: Shun-Ichiro Sakamoto, Tomohiro Murata, Motohiro Maeda, Atsushi Hiromoto, Takako Yamaguchi, Kenji Suzuki, Yosuke Ishii

Published in: General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

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Abstract

Background

Recent developments in surgical devices, including left atrial appendage closure, have enabled surgeons to perform aggressive operations for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the outcomes of AF surgery in emergent cases have not been extensively studied.

Objective and methods

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of AF surgery in emergency surgery cases associated with cardiovascular events. We enrolled 18 patients who underwent various types of AF surgery due to emergencies, including acute aortic dissection (n = 6), acute myocardial infarction (n = 5), bleeding due to perforation from radiofrequency catheter ablation (n = 4), acute mitral regurgitation (n = 2), and cardiac tumor (n = 1). Four and ten patients underwent the full maze procedure and pulmonary vein isolation, respectively. Ganglionated plexi ablation was also performed in three patients as part of a combined procedure. The left atrial appendage was solely closed in four patients.

Results

There was no surgical mortality or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events in our patient series. The rates of freedom of recurrence of AF or atrial tachycardia at 1 and 3 years were 92.9% and 82.5%, respectively. After a mean follow-up period of 46.7 ± 25.8 months, no thromboembolism events were observed in the patients. Furthermore, no cardiovascular death was recorded.

Conclusion

The surgical procedures for AF are safe and effective in cases requiring emergency surgery.
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Metadata
Title
Safety and outcomes of surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation in emergency surgery cases
Authors
Shun-Ichiro Sakamoto
Tomohiro Murata
Motohiro Maeda
Atsushi Hiromoto
Takako Yamaguchi
Kenji Suzuki
Yosuke Ishii
Publication date
12-04-2024
Publisher
Springer Nature Singapore
Published in
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Print ISSN: 1863-6705
Electronic ISSN: 1863-6713
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-024-02027-9