Left atrial reduction by posterior wall plication combined with mitral valve surgery in patients with a dilated left atrium

Gökhan Özerdem,

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2011.038

Gökhan Özerdem¹, Barış Uymaz¹, Ersin Sarıçam², Başar Candemir³, Neyyir Tuncay Eren⁴

¹Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Private Çağ Hospital, Ankara
²Department of Cardiology, Private Çağ Hospital, Ankara
³Department of Cardiology, Medical Faculy of Ankara University, Ankara
⁴Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculy of Ankara University, Ankara

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2011.038

Background: We aimed to reduce atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic events by reducing left atrial dilatation via posterior plication technique.

Methods: Between May 2003 and January 2009, 38 patients (17 males, 21 females; mean age 53.7±9.9 years; range 44 to 76 years) underwent mitral valve surgery with left atrial reduction by posterior wall plication. Neither bipolar nor unipolar catheter ablation therapy for chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) was performed in this study. We also did not include patients in this study who had undergone radiofrequency ablation therapy for chronic AF.

Results: At discharge, 15 patients (39%) were in sinus rhythm. During follow-up, sinus rhythm was restored in 14 patients (37%). Left atrium diameter was significantly reduced from 7.0±1.4 cm preoperatively to 4.6±0.5 cm at six months after surgery.

Conclusion: In conclusion, left atrial size reduction is simple, takes less time, and is also effective in maintaining sinus rhythm without adding any additional mortality or morbidity compared to mitral valve surgery alone.

Keywords : Heart valve diseases; left atrial reduction process; mitral valve

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