Epicardial Cryoablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery

摘要

In our practice, the Maze III procedure as described by Cox and coworkers1 2 is performed on a strictly selected group of patients referred primarily because of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF), non-responding to antiarrhythmic medication and in 30% with a history of thromboembolic events. Eighty percent undergo the Maze III operation as a lone surgical procedure, and 20% also have concomitant surgery. Postoperative freedom from AF is 97% (6-year follow-up).