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Mitral valve (MV) disease increases the risk for atrial fibrillation (AF). As mitral disease worsens, AF becomes more difficult to control, and thus many individuals undergoing MV surgery have persistent or permanent AF. Surgical techniques for ablation of AF have evolved but never have been subjected to a randomized trial. Now, researchers have assessed 1-year outcomes in 260 patients undergoing MV surgery who were randomized to ablation or no ablation. Ablation patients were further randomized to pulmonary vein isolation or a more extensive biatrial “maze” procedure. All patients had surgical closure of the left atrial appendage.
The primary endpoint was freedom from AF during 3-day Holter monitoring at 6 and 12 months. Patients randomized…