title: Predictors of sinus rhythm after radiofrequency maze and mitral valve surgery.
abstract: The prevalence and predictors of postoperative sinus rhythm in patients undergoing a radiofrequency ablation maze operation and mitral valve surgery were assessed in 63 patients of whom 54 (86%) were in permanent atrial fibrillation. Operative mortality was 3.17%. At a median follow-up of 18 months, 54 (88.5%) patients were in sinus rhythm and 7 (11.5%) were in atrial fibrillation. The probability of sinus rhythm at 30 months was 92%. Left atrial diameter was the most significant prognostic factor for sinus rhythm on multivariate proportional-hazard regression analysis. The cutoff value of preoperative left atrial diameter for predicting persistent atrial fibrillation at 6 months was 6 cm (100% sensitivity and 73.6% specificity). The radiofrequency ablation maze operation can be performed in addition to mitral surgery with a high rate of successful conversion to sinus rhythm. Preoperative left atrial diameter < 6 cm is an important prognostic factor for sinus rhythm conversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. schaiyaroj@gmail.com
authors.forename: Suchart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaiyaroj
authors.forename: Tachapong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngarmukos
authors.forename: Panuwat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lertsithichai
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors