Treatment of atrial fibrillation with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation in one stage with valvular surgery

Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent chronic arrhythmia, with significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality risk. Poor remission rate with medical treatment and the outstanding efficacy of Cox-maze procedure inspired the less invasive intraoperative radiofrequency ablation therapy in patients undergoing open heart surgery. In June 2003 the first maze procedure in Hungary with the Medtronic Cardioblate surgical ablation system, with mitral and tricuspid valvuloplasty in a patient suffering from mitral and tricuspid insufficiency with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, was performed in our institution. After 8 months the patient is in sinus rhythm and is free of complaints.