BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate whether the sequential hybrid approach combining surgical CryoMaze followed by the radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation can improve freedom from @entity943 . METHODS: Thirty-five @entity1 with persistent @entity955 underwent a CryoMaze procedure in conjunction with cardiac surgery for structural @entity299 . Three months after surgery, all @entity1 underwent a 7-day electrocardiogram Holter followed by an electrophysiological study and mapping of the left and right atria. All pulmonary veins were reisolated and all ablation lines were completed, if necessary, using RF energy. @entity1 were followed-up at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the catheter ablation. RESULTS: Before the mapping study and RF ablation, nine @entity1 (26%) had ongoing @entity955 or @entity591 , 10 @entity1 (28%) had paroxysmal @entity4710 , and 16 @entity1 (46%) had sinus rhythm on the 7-day Holter monitoring. During the electrophysiological procedure, complete cryoablation lines around the left pulmonary veins were found in 29 @entity1 (83%), around the right pulmonary veins in 25 @entity1 (71%), between the superior veins in 20 @entity1 (57%), between the inferior veins in 27 @entity1 (77%), across the mitral isthmus in 12 @entity1 (34%), and across the cavotricuspid isthmus in one @entity1 (3%). @entity943 -free survival rate of antiarrhythmic drugs after reisolation of the veins and completion of the lines was 86% at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Ablation lines created using surgical CryoMaze are often incomplete. Sequential surgical CryoMaze procedures followed by catheter ablation significantly increase freedom from @entity943 in @entity1 with persistent @entity955 .

Sequential Hybrid Surgical CryoMaze and Transvenous Catheter Ablation of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity591 :: ('MESH:D013610', 'Disease') :: ['atrial tachycardia'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['atrial fibrillation'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['heart disease'] @entity4710 :: ('MESH:D013617', 'Disease') :: ['atrial tachyarrhythmia'] @entity943 :: ('MESH:D001145', 'Disease') :: ['atrial arrhythmias', 'Arrhythmia', 'arrhythmia']
@entity955 :: (MESH:D001281,Disease) :: ['Atrial Fibrillation']
