Does a combined irrigated RF Maze procedure and mitral valve surgery through a port access approach improve freedom from AF at 1 year in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery?
The addition of an irrigated RF Maze procedure to port-access mitral valve surgery is safe and highly effective at restoring sinus rhythm at 1 year.
The combination of mitral valve surgery and irrigated RF Maze procedure was safe and efficient through a port access approach. There were no procedure related complications like esophageal or coronary artery injury. Early and mid-term results were favourable with 93.6% of patients free of AF at 1 year in comparison to the 9.4% of the control group. The data is not sufficient to reach any conclusions in terms of thromboembolic rates, despite favourable results for the RF Maze group. Nevertheless, in terms of feasibilty, sinus rhythm restoration and overall outcome, early results are encouraging and we advocate the use of the combined procedure through a port access approach.
B. Akpınar (Mon,) studied this question.