To learn the latest and the most comprehensive thinking specific to concomitant surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation, please find below a series of Foundational Articles supporting concomitant surgical treatment of AFib. Please check back frequently as this website section will be updated regularly.
Foundational Article: The electrophysiologic basis for lesions of the contemporary Maze operation. This article reviews the recommended lesion set of the Maze IV procedure including both the rationale and the technique for each lesion set. Download Now.
Foundational Article: The Maze Procedure and Postoperative Pacemakers. This article reviews the rationale for performing the appropriate atrial lesion set. The article also reviews the relevant anatomy of the right atrium and how damage to the specialized conduction system can occur during heart valve surgery as well as cardiac ablation. Lastly, the article provides insights into why a pacemaker may be indicated after a successful surgical ablation procedure. Download Now.
Foundational Article: When Is a Maze Procedure a Maze Procedure? This article reviews the electrophysiology for atrial fibrillation. The article also traces the evolution of the surgical treatment of AFib from the Maze I procedure through the Maze IV procedure. The article describes the anatomical basis for the complete lesion set and reviews the principles that distinguish a “Maze” procedure from other ablation procedures. Download Now.
Foundational Article: Outcomes of Surgical Ablation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Cardiac Surgeries. This article reviews a multi-centered comparison of mid-term mortality for AFib patients treated during cardiac surgery versus patients not treated during cardiac surgery. Download Now.
Foundational Article: Current Approach to Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. This article reviews evidence on the mortality and morbidity risks of AFib in cardiac surgery patients, the supporting evidence for surgical ablation and left atrial appendage management, and a review of the electrophysiologic basis of the Maze III lesion set. Download Now.
Foundational Article: Performance of the Cox-maze IV procedure is associated with improved long-term survival in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac surgery. This article reviews 30-day and 10-year mortality of AFib patients treated versus untreated patients. This article also compares mortality rates for patients receiving AFib treatment versus patients not receiving AFib treatment during CABG and heart valve procedures. Download Now.
Foundational Article: Prevalence of atrial fibrillation before cardiac surgery and factors associated with concomitant ablation. This article reviews how the revised Class I recommendations will affect appropriate use of surgical ablation. This is challenging because the reported prevalence of preoperative atrial fibrillation depends on the definition used. The objective of this article is to determine the prevalence of atrial fibrillation in the 3 years before cardiac surgery and the rate of concomitant surgical ablation. Download Now.
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Page last updated: October 9, 2019
