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.