title: Efficacy of the maze procedure for atrial fibrillation associated with atrial septal defect.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication in elderly patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of the maze procedure in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2000 and May 2011, 46 patients underwent the maze procedure as a concomitant operation with ASD closure. Three patients who underwent a right-sided maze were excluded, and one patient was lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up duration was 3.2±2.5 years. Electrocardiography was performed 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery, and checked annually after that.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AF persisted in 4 patients after surgery. One year after surgery, among 38 patients, 55.3% remained in sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic drugs. However, when including the patients who took antiarrhythmic drugs, 92.1% were in sinus rhythm. Freedom from AF recurrence at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years after surgery were 97.4±2.6, 94.4±3.8, 91.2±4.9, 87.8±5.8, 79.5±7.6, and 68.2±12.4, respectively. There was no early mortality after operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concomitant treatment with the maze procedure and ASD closure is safe and effective for restoring the sinus rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Korea.
authors.forename: Hunbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Ji-Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Pyo-Won
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Dong Seop
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Tae-Gook
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Jun
keywords: Anti-arrhythmic agents; Arrhythmia surgery; Atrial fibrillation; Congenital heart disease; Heart septal defects, atrial; Survival analysis