Does «maze» Procedure Affect on Hospital Results of Mitral Valve Replacement?

Aims. To assess the outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment by radiofrequency ablation for patients with mitral valve replacement, the analysis of short-term results of 128 patients was performed. Methods. Mean age of the patients was 56,7±9,6 (29 - 79) years, males - 39, females - 89. Most of the patients had longstanding persistent AF - 81 (63,3%), 28 (21,9%) had persistent AF and 19 (14,8%) - paroxysmal AF. The indications for surgery were: rheumatic mitral valve disease in 105 patients (82%), degerative mitral valve disease - in 21 (16,4%) and with treated infectious endocarditis - in 2 (1,6%). Maze IV procedure was carried out in all cases. Results. Hospital mortality was 0,8% (1 patient). Ten patients (7,9%) required pacemaker implantation. The indications were sinus node dysfunction in 7 patients, bradycardia AF - in 2 patients, AV node dysfunction - in 1. At the discharge 88 patients (69,3%) had a sinus rhythm, 10 (7,9%) - atrial rhythm, pacemaker rhythm with sinus node dysfunction patients - in 4 (3,1%) and AF - in 25 (19,7%). Thus, the rate of freedom from atrial fibrillation was 80,3% (102 patients). The effectiveness of ablation for paroxysmal AF was 100%, persistent - 74,1%, longstanding persistent - 77,8% (p=0,006). To reveal other predictors of freedom from AF at the discharge each ECHO parameter was included in the simple logistic regression analysis. Statistically significant p-value was obtained for the preoperative right atrial size (p=0,005), and close to it for the left atrial size, especially for the index left atrial volume/body surface area (p=0,052). Conclusion. Thus, the radiofrequency ablation is an effective method for treatment of AF in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement. The rate of freedom from AF at the discharge is 80,3%. The predictors of freedom from AF at the discharge are preoperative form of AF and preoperative size of atria.