Long-term follow-up after surgery for atrial fibrillation with concomitant open heart surgery.
This study, which is part of the international CURE-AF trial, evaluates results after Cox-Maze IV surgery for atrial fibrillation in Norway at six-year follow-up.
MATERIAL AND METHOD: Nineteen patients were included in this prospective cohort study. Atrial fibrillation had persisted for 40 months in the group with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (n = 12) and 6 months in the group with persistent atrial fibrillation (n = 7). Surgery for atrial fibrillation was performed according to the Cox-Maze IV procedure in the CURE-AF protocol. Follow-up in the first 12 months was strictly according to the CURE-AF protocol, thereafter conducted by the primary health service.
RESULTS: Sinus rhythm was restored in 11 patients at the time of discharge and in 14 patients six months postoperatively. After 5-6 years of follow-up, all patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation had experienced recurrence. Two achieved sinus rhythm after electroconversion. Six of the seven in the group with persistent atrial fibrillation had sinus rhythm after 5-6 years.
INTERPRETATION: The results were good initially, with restoration of sinus rhythm in more than two thirds of the patients after 6-9 months. Five years later, a high recurrence rate was found in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Several recurrences had not been detected by the public health service or treatment had not been attempted.
PMID: 33433087 [PubMed...
Source: Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening - Category: General Medicine Authors: Andersen KS, Grong K, Hoff PI, Wahba A Tags: Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen Source Type: research
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