title: Preoperative left atrial emptying fraction is a powerful predictor of successful maze procedure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The maze procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a widely used adjunctive therapy. It is necessary to define the precise indications for the procedure based on preoperative factors, but definitive parameters in terms of atrial function have not been well determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, 55 consecutive patients undergoing the maze procedure for persistent AF in combination with operations for organic heart diseases were evaluated. After dividing the patients into successful (n=41) and unsuccessful procedure (n=14) groups, based on the postoperative rhythm, the preoperative left atrial (LA) emptying fraction measured by transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiogram was compared between groups. The LA emptying fraction was calculated as [(LA maximum volume - LA minimum volume)/LA maximum volume]x100. The preoperative LA emptying fraction was higher in the successful procedure group than in the unsuccessful procedure group (31.2+/-8.5 vs 21.4+/-10.9%, P=0.0011). Based on receiver-perating characteristic curve analyses, LA emptying fraction >26% predicted successful maze procedure with 70.7% sensitivity and 78.6% specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LA emptying fraction should be considered in the precise indications of the maze procedure as adjunctive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sakakibara Heart Institute, Fuchu, Japan.
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aikawa
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimokawa
authors.forename: Kanki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Itaru
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takamisawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tobaru
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Misu
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagayama
authors.forename: Ryuta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Umemura
authors.forename: Shuichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takanashi
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sumiyoshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity