Impact of maze and concomitant mitral valve surgery on clinical outcomes.

We evaluated the usefulness of the maze procedure among patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing mitral valve surgery. Seven matched-controlled and four randomized trials were identified from Medline English language papers (1995 to 2005). After 2 to 8 years of follow-up in matched-controlled studies, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) for atrial fibrillation free, embolic events free, and long-term survival for those treated with maze were 12.

Ensuring transmurality using irrigated radiofrequency modified maze in surgery for atrial fibrillation--a simple and effective way.

Transmural lesions are ensured with the cut and sew technique and with bipolar delivery of radiofrequency (RF) energy [Ann. Thorac. Surg.