Outcomes of Surgical Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: The Port Access Approach vs. Median Sternotomy

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and rhythm outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation through a port access approach compared with sternotomy in patients with AF associated with mitral valve diseases. Materials and Methods: From February 2006 through December 2009, 135 patients underwent biatrial AF ablation with a mitral operation via either a port-access approach (n=78, minimally invasive cardiac surgery [MICS] group) or a conventional sternotomy (n=57, sternotomy group). To adjust for the differences in the two groups' baseline characteristics, a propensity score analysis was performed. Results: After adjustment, there were no significant differences in the two groups' baseline profiles. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was significantly longer (p=0.045) in the MICS group ($176.0{\pm}49.5$ minutes) than the sternotomy group ($150.0{\pm}51.9$ minutes). There were no significant differences (p=0.31) in the two groups' rate of reoperation for bleeding (MICS=6 vs. sternotomy=2, p=0.47) or the requirement for permanent pacing (MICS=1 vs. sternotomy=3). The major event-free survival rates at two years were $87.4{\pm}8.1%$ in the MICS group and $89.6{\pm}5.8%$ in the sternotomy group (p=0.92). Freedom from late AF at 2 years was $86.8{\pm}6.2%$ in the MICS group and $85.0{\pm}6.9%$ in the sternotomy group (p=0.86). Conclusion: Both the port-access approach and sternotomy showed tolerable clinical outcomes following biatrial AF ablation with mitral valve surgery.