ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effectiveness of the video-assisted minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation combined irbesartan use for the treatment of the persistent atrial fibrillation (AF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2006 to December 2009, 83 patients with persistent AF having a video-assisted minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation. There were 58 males, 25 females with a mean age of (57 ± 11) years. Mean duration of preoperative AF was (61 ± 65) months. Follow-up for the whole patients ranged from 1.0 to 3.6 years [mean (2.2 ± 0.8) years]. Patients were randomly divided into irbesartan group (n = 42) and without irbesartan group (n = 41) postoperatively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No patient died postoperatively. During follow-up, there was 1 patient died of unknown reason. At the end of the procedure, 38 patients (45.7%) were sinus rhythm, 4 patients (4.9%) were pacing rhythm, 5 patients (6.0%) were atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia, and 36 patients (43.4%) were AF. Before discharge, 53 patients (63.9%) were sinus rhythm, 24 patients (28.9%) were AF. At late follow-up, 65 patients (80.2%) were sinus rhythm; 14 patients (17.3%) were AF or atrial flutter. After follow-up, the Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the irbesartan group had fewer patients with AF (P = 0.020). The hazard ratio for AF recurrence in patients treated with irbesartan was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.087 to 0.637, P = 0.004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The video-assisted minimally invasive radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective. The patients treated with irbesartan have a lower rate of recurrence of AF.</p>