European CURE-AF Study

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must meet all of the following criteria to be enrolled in the study:

  1. Documented history of AF a For inclusion in permanent AF arm: Patients must have a documented history of permanent AF (cardioversion failure) as defined by the ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines; Documentation of AF must include one or more chart references to AF and/or one or more ECG's with AF prior to the patient's surgery. Other supporting information could include references to cardioversion attempts using either drugs or electrical shock. b For inclusion in persistent AF arm: Patients must have a documented history of persistent AF as defined by the ACC/AHA/ESC Guidelines: characterized as episodes of non-self-terminating atrial fibrillation that usually lasts more than 7 days
  2. Concomitant indication (other than AF) for open-heart surgery for one or more of the following:

a Mitral valve repair or replacement, b Aortic valve repair or replacement, c Tricuspid valve repair or replacement, d ASD repair, e PFO closure, or f CABG procedures; 3 Able to take the anticoagulant warfarin or other ACC/AHA/ESC-recommended anticoagulant medication; 4 Greater than or equal to 18 years of age; 5 Able and willing to comply with study requirements by signing a Patient Informed Consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who meet any of the following criteria may not be enrolled in the study:

  1 Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, 2 NYHA functional class = IV, 3 Left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 30%, 4 Left atrial diameter > 7.0 cm, 5. Need for emergent cardiac surgery (i.e. cardiogenic shock) or redo open heart surgery, 6 Preoperative need for an intra-aortic balloon pump or intravenous inotropes, 7 Previous atrial ablation, AV-nodal ablation, or surgical Maze procedure, 8 Contraindication for anticoagulation therapy, 9 Current diagnosis of active systemic infection, 10 Renal failure requiring dialysis or hepatic failure, 11 Documented myocardial infarction 6 weeks prior to study enrollment, 12 Life expectancy of less than one year, or 13 Pregnancy or desire to be pregnant within 12-months of the study treatment.