Maze operation for chronic atrial fibrillation with valvular heart diseases

• Published in: Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery Vol. 49; no. 9; p. 709
• Main Authors: Abe, T, Kukawi, K, Mawatari, T, Sakata, J, Komatsu, K, Urita, R, Komatsu, S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.08.1996
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Atrial Fibrillation - etiology; Atrial Fibrillation - surgery; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Chronic Disease; Female; Heart Valve Diseases - complications; Heart Valve Diseases - surgery; Heart Valves - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0021-5252

Between July 1994 and August 1995, 14 patients underwent combined modified maze procedure and valvular surgery including 5 patients having reoperation. Associated procedures were performed with mitral valve operation (n = 13), tricuspid annuloplasty or valve replacement (n = 9) and aortic valve replacement (n = 4). Duration of atrial fibrillation (AF) varied from 1 to 18 years (mean 8.0 +/- 5.8 year), the f-wave voltage ranged from 0.05 to 0.5 mV (0.21 +/- 0.13 mV), left atrial dimension (LAD) ranged from 35.6 to 66.3 mm (49.0 +/- 9.3). One patient died 2 months after undergoing combined maze procedure and MVR + TAP due to pulmonary infection and sepsis, but the other 13 patients survived. Nine patients (69%) regained atrial rhythm, two patients (15%) had junctional rhythm and another two (15%) remained in AF at follow-up periods between 1 to 11.5 months (6.3 +/- 3.1). The nine patients who recovered to normal sinus rhythm had preoperative f-wave for a significant higher voltage than the patients with AF and JR (0.27 +/- 0.12 vs 0.13 +/- 0.05 mV, p < 0.05) and a smaller left atrial dimension (44.5 +/- 0.7 vs 54.8 +/- 6.9 mm, p < 0.05). These data suggest that the maze operation is effective and should be considered for patients with chronic AF indicated for surgical valvular diseases.