RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: In order to definitively integrate cryosurgery for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) into the therapeutic armamentarium, the medical and economic impact of its use on a population of patients with a high risk of recurrence of postoperative AF must be evaluated. METHOD: An observational study of patients who benefited from cryosurgery between July 2006 and December 2008 was performed. The cost of consumables and hospitalization was determined and compared to that of a control group of 27 patients with preoperative AF that had not benefited from cryosurgery. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients benefited from cryosurgery during a mitral (65.5%) or aortic intervention (37.9%) to treat a paroxystic (44.8%) or permanent AF (55.2%). More than half of them (58.6%) had a 12-month follow-up; 82.4% of these patients showed a permanent sinus rhythm and 32.6% had stopped their antiarrhythmic medication. There was no significant difference between the duration and cost of hospitalization for the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Cryosurgery provides a clear clinical and economic advantage with no recurrence of AF, and it reduces antiarrhythmic medication treatment.