title: Observations on the perioperative management of patients undergoing the Maze procedure.
abstract: In addition to the usual measures that constitute optimal perioperative care after cardiac surgery, the Maze procedure demands several other measures because of certain complications that are unique to this particular operation. These complications include preoperative conditions such as amiodarone therapy, thromboembolism, diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, and associated valvular heart disease, as well as intraoperative differences that include multiple atriotomies and excision of both atrial appendages. The most common postoperative complications are atrial arrhythmias, excessive fluid retention, and pulmonary complications. In this article, we outline our own approach to the perioperative care of patients undergoing the Maze procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ad
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Pirovic
authors.forename: Y D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Suyderhoud
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: DeGroot
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: W Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Duvall
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods; D019990:Perioperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control