title: Mechanisms of human atrial fibrillation: Lessons learned from 20 years of atrial fibrillation surgery.
abstract: The Cox-Maze procedure was introduced 20 years ago and has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Data recorded during surgery and catheter ablations have provided new insights into the mechanisms of human atrial fibrillation. These data, plus the results of surgical and catheter ablation, suggest a patient-specific approach to the surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. schuesslerr@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Schuessler
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Damiano
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000639:trends*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*