title: Freedom from atrial arrhythmias after classic maze III surgery: a 10-year experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the persistence of favorable outcome, the occurrence of new atrial arrhythmias, and sinus node dysfunction in patients who underwent the maze III procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preoperative, in-hospital, and follow-up data of 203 patients who underwent the maze III procedure between June 1993 and June 2003 were collected. A total of 139 patients underwent the maze procedure for lone atrial fibrillation, and 64 patients underwent the maze procedure and concomitant cardiac surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no 30-day postoperative mortality. During a mean follow-up of 4.0 +/- 2.6 years, 12 patients (6%) died (2 cardiac related). At the end of follow-up, freedom from supraventricular arrhythmias was 80% for the lone atrial fibrillation group and 64% for the concomitant atrial fibrillation group. Freedom from stroke during follow-up was 100% in the lone atrial fibrillation group and 97% in the concomitant group. Multivariate analysis revealed that rhythm at 1-year follow-up (P < .001; odds ratio 9.56, 95% confidence limits 3.92-23.31) and preoperative left atrium dimension (P = .028; odds ratio 1.06 for every millimeter, 95% confidence limits 1.01-1.12) were predictors of success at the end of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that the favorable results of the maze III procedure in terms of freedom from supraventricular arrhythmias persist in most patients for at least 4 years.
authors.affiliation: Heart Lung Center Utrecht, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands. phballaux@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Philippe K E W
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Ballaux
authors.forename: Guillaume S C
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Geuzebroek
authors.forename: Norbert M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Hemel
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kelder
authors.forename: Karl M E
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Dossche
authors.forename: Jef M P G
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Lukas V A
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Boersma
authors.forename: Eric F D
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Wever
authors.forename: Aart
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brutel de la Rivière
authors.forename: Jo J A M T
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Defauw
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000601:surgery*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors