title: Mitral valve replacement with homograft and Maze III procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mitral valve disease is often accompanied by atrial fibrillation, which may compromise the patient even after the valvular lesion has been repaired.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three patients with rheumatic type mitral valve disease and chronic atrial fibrillation were treated by mitral valve replacement with cryopreserved mitral valve homograft and Maze III procedure, as a method to relieve both the valvular pathology and the rhythm disorder. The patients' clinical courses have been followed for up to 1 year after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients survived operation, and all have normal sinus rhythm. None are taking cardiac medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term treatment with warfarin should not be required, and other cardiac medicines may be eliminated following mitral valve replacement with homograft combined with Maze III procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103, USA. ldddoty@ihc.com
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Doty
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Dilip
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Millar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*