Operative Characteristics
Roughly half of patients underwent sternotomy (48%) versus right mini
thoracotomy (table 3). Median cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was
152.0 minutes (IQR 116.0-178.0), and median aortic cross-clamp time was
55.0 minutes (IQR 36.0-68.0). The majority of CMP-IV lesion sets were
created using a non-irrigated bipolar radiofrequency ablation clamp
(79% 137/173; AtriCure Inc., Mason OH, USA), with the remainder created
using irrigated bipolar radiofrequency devices (Medtronic PLC,
Minneapolis MN, USA). Cryoablation was used for all ablations near the
tricuspid and mitral valve annuli. There were no significant differences
between groups by rhythm outcome in operative approach, ablation device
usage, or median CPB or aortic cross-clamp time.