Intraoperative control of ablation of arrhythmias. Recurrences

The effectiveness of the treatment of arrhythmias is based in the demonstration of elimination and non-induction following ablation. The methodology to assess ablation efficacy requires the training of cardiac surgeons in electrophysiology and arrhythmia surgery. The current methods and techniques enable simpler and more efficacious elimination of most cardiac arrhythmias during heart surgery. Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly treated arrhythmia in the surgical theatre, but electrophysiological evaluation of other arrhythmic substrates is also necessary. We herein review the methodological requirements needed to rigorously perform surgical arrhythmia elimination and review the mechanisms involved in recurrences.