[Surgical therapy of chronic atrial fibrillation with the "Cox/Maze-III-operation"].

UNLABELLED

We examined the results of simultaneous surgical treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation using a Cox/Maze III operation during mitral valve surgery (n = 12), atrial secundum defect closure (n = 1), combined operation (mitral valve and atrial secundum; n = 1) and thrombectomy from the left atrium (n = 1). Mean preoperative atrial fibrillation was 5.1 years (range 0.5-12 years). In the mean follow-up period of 13.1 months (1-24 months), 14 patients (93%) had sinus rhythm.

CONCLUSION

(1) The surgical treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation using a Cox/Maze III operation can be performed without increased perioperative or postoperative risks; (2) Cox/Maze III operation represents an effective surgical treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation.