Pecha et al studies patients who required permanent pacemaker placement within 30 days of surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation. Pacemaker placement is a complication of surgical ablation. The authors are from the University Heart Center in Hamburg.
Patient selection: surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation
Indications for pacemaker placement:
(1) atrioventricular block
(2) sinus bradycardia
(3) sinus arrest
(4) bradyarrhythmia
Biatrial ablation is associated with a 2-fold increase in implantation rate compared to left atrial ablation alone.
A valve replacement procedure resulted in a slightly higher rate but this was not statistically significant.
Other factors (energy source, comorbid condition, demographics) appeared to influence the rate.
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