title: Improved success rate of the maze procedure in mitral valve disease by new criteria for patients' selection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have carried out the maze procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF) as a combined operation with mitral valve surgery in a consecutive fashion until December 1994 (period 1). Therefore, the success rate in sinus rhythm conversion remained unsatisfactory. We have selected the patients according to arbitrarily decided new criteria since January 1995 (period 2), and examined the results prospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between May 1992 and February 1997, we carried out the maze procedure in 220 patients as a combined operation with mitral valve surgery. During period 2, we carried out the maze procedure in 63 cases who satisfied all the new criteria (voltage of f-wave in V1 lead > 0.1 mV, cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) < 70%, LA dimension < 70 mm), and 37 patients out of these criteria. Success was defined as sinus rhythm restoration without sick sinus syndrome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 4 hospital deaths (1.8%) and 4 late deaths (1.8%). Success rate was significantly (P = 0.0089) higher in period 2 (82%) than in period 1 (65%). Success rate was significantly higher in patients within criteria than out of criteria both in period 1, period 2, and total (77 versus 48%, P = 0.018; 90 versus 66%, P = 0.004, and 83 versus 55%, P = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maze procedure is highly reliable when combined with mitral valve surgery if patients are selected properly.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, National Cardiovascular Center, Suita City, Osaka, Japan. jkobayas@hosp.ncvc.go.jp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kosakai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasako
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eishi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D018579:Patient Selection; D016896:Treatment Outcome