ABSTRACT
Objective To compare clinical effect of unipolar versus bipolar radiofrequency ablation in treating atrial fibrillation (AF) in elderly patients and discuss the correlated risk factors.Methods From October 2008 to December 2013,a total of 50 elderly patients with organic heart disease and AF underwent radiofrequency ablation surgery.All patients were divided into 2 groups of unipolar (group A,n=20) and bipolar (group B,n=30 patients) radiofrequency ablations.The variations of electrocardiogram (ECG) and ultrasonic cardiogram (UCG) in patients were collected and the complications and the NYHA class of the patients were recorded at 3,6 and 12 months after surgery.The total 43 elderly patients were divided into sinus group and non-sinus group according to their ECG at 12 months after surgery.Results The recovery rates of sinus rhythm at 3,6 and 12 months after surgery were 73.7％(14/19),66.7％(12/18) and 61.1％ (11/18)respectively in group A and 82.8％(24/29),85.2％(23/27)and 88.0％(22/25) respectively in group B.Two groups of the recovery rate of sinus rhythm had a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＜0.05) at 12 months after surgery.The complication rate in group A was higher than in group B [55.0％ (11 cases) vs.26.7％ (8 cases),P＜0.05].Preoperative history of AF and left atrial diameter were the influencing factors for the sinus rhythm recovery rates (P＜0.05).Conclusions Bipolar radiofrequency ablation for AF is safe and has less complications and high success rate of restoring sinus rhythm.The patients with long preoperative history of AF and left atrium distension have a low success rate of restoring sinus rhythm with a high recurrence rate.