Surgical Ablation of Long-Standing Persistent AF: One-year Outcomes from the CASE-AF Registry

This study used CardioSurgery Atrial Fibrillation (CASE-AF) registry data to evaluate outcomes of surgery for long standing persistent AF at one year. No AF recurrence at one year is defined by the presence of AF, no re-ablation, no further cardioversion, and no rehospitalization due to AF after a three-month blanking period. Early mortality (30 days) was 2 percent and morbidity was low. Various ablation techniques were used. Of the 202 qualifying patients, 106 (56 percent) had no AF recurrence and 93 percent of these were asymptomatic. Multivariable analysis showed that surgical ablation was most effective when delivered concomitant with endocardial cryoablation.