Efficacy of a left atrial procedure for treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.

A simple left atrial procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF) was performed in 16 elderly patients (age over 70 years old) with chronic AF associated with mitral and/or aortic valvular diseases. Chronic AF was eliminated upon discharge in 13 out of the 16 patients (81%). Twelve of the 13 patients (92%) whose AF had disappeared recovered the atrial kick of their right atrium, and 9 patients (70%) recovered the atrial kick of their left atrium. A simple surgical procedure to the left atrium was effective in the treatment of chronic AF associated with mitral valve disease in elderly patients. This simple procedure is preferable to other methods for the elimination of chronic AF with mitral valve disease in elderly patients.