Clinical & Experimental Cardiology
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2155-9880
+44 1300 500008
Tareq Aleinati and M Youssef
Chest Diseases Hospital, Kuwait
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Clin Exp Cardiolog
Introduction & Aim: AF is the most frequently encountered tachyarrhythmia in cardiac surgery patients. Maze IV and its LA lesion set are both associated with the highest success rate of treatment of AF. Recently, we introduced minimally invasive cryoablation maze in our institution. Our study objective is to evaluate feasibility, safety, and early results of concomitant AF treatment with argon based cryoablation in patients undergoing valvular procedures through right minithoracotomy. Methods: Between October 2016 and January 2017, data were retrospectively collected of all patients who underwent cryoablation maze combined with valve surgeries through right minithoracotomy approach. Argon based cryoablation devices were used in all cases. Results: Seven patients were identified. Five of those underwent one-valve surgery, one had two-valve surgery with ASD closure, and one had three-valve surgery, all with cryoablation Maze. Four (58%) were females, average age was 56 years, 4(58%) had rheumatic valvular disease while 3(42%) had degenerative MR. LVEF 51�?±9.1% and left atrial size 69.4�?±20 mm. All patients had permanent AF. CPB and cross clamp times were 256�?±60 and 184�?±52 minutes respectively. There was no mortality, MACE or stroke. Five patients (71%) were in normal sinus rhythm at 8 months follow up. Conclusion: Our initial experience using Argon based cryoablation for concomitant treatment of AF through right minithoracotomy seems to be feasible and safe. Our early success rate (71%) in treating AF through this approach is promising. We also demonstrated that such approach seems to be feasible and successful in complex multiple valve procedures associated with permanent AF and large atria. A bigger study group and more than one year follow up results are needed to support our initial conclusion.
Tareq Aleinati is a Consultant Cardiac Surgeon who has completed his training at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. He then did fellowships in the fields of complex mitral valve surgeries and heart failure surgical interventions with VAD and heart transplantation at University of Toronto, Toronto and McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He currently works at Chest Diseases Hospital in Kuwait, one of the leading specialized hospitals in Middle East. His areas of expertise include Valvular and Aortic Reconstruction, Heart Failure Surgery, Total Arterial Coronary Artery Revascularization, Atrial Fibrillation Surgery and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (Aortic, Mitral and Tricuspid valves, Cox Maze ablation, ASD repair).