Project description:BackgroundAlthough concomitant pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is used more frequently than the Cox-Maze procedure, which is currently the gold standard treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), data on the comparative effectiveness of the two procedures after concomitant mitral valve (MV) surgery are still limited.ObjectiveWe conducted a systematic review to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing the mid-term mortality and recurrence of AF after concomitant Cox-Maze and PVI in patients with AF undergoing MV surgery based on 12-month follow-up.MethodsMedline, EMBASE databases, and the Cochrane Library were searched from 1987 up to March 2022 for studies comparing concomitant Cox-Maze and PVI. Additionally, a meta-analysis of RCTs was performed to compare the mid-term clinical outcomes between these two surgical ablation techniques.ResultsThree RCTs and three observational studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review with 790 patients in total (532 concomitant Cox-Maze and 258 PVI during MV surgery). Most studies reported that the concomitant Cox-Maze procedure was associated with higher freedom from AF at 12-month follow-up than PVI. Regarding AF recurrence, estimates pooled across the three RCTs indicated large heterogeneity and high uncertainty. In the largest and highest quality RCT, 12-month AF recurrence was higher in the PVI arm (risk ratio = 1.58, 95% CI: 0.91-2.73). In two out of three higher-quality observational studies, 12-month AF recurrence was higher in PVI than in the Cox-Maze arm (estimated adjusted probabilities 11% vs. 8% and 35% vs. 17%, respectively). RCTs demonstrated comparable 12-month mortality between concomitant Cox-Maze and PVI, while observational studies demonstrated the survival benefit of Cox-Maze.ConclusionsConcomitant Cox-Maze in AF patients undergoing MV surgery is associated with better mid-term freedom from AF when compared to PVI with comparable mid-term survival. Large observational studies suggest that there might be a mid-term survival benefit among patients after concomitant Cox-Maze. Further large RCTs with longer standardized follow-up are required to clarify the benefits of concomitant Cox-Maze in AF patients during MV surgery.
Project description:ObjectivesAnalysis of the long-term risks of ischaemic stroke and cerebral bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation after mitral valve surgery and concomitant Cox-maze IV procedure.MethodsIn total, 397 patients with symptomatic degenerative mitral valve insuffciency and atrial fibrillation, underwent mitral valve surgery and Cox-maze IV in Sweden between 2009 and 2017. In this retrospective nationwide analysis, patients were followed in national patient registers until 30 September 2022.ResultsThere were 4 deaths within 30 days (1.0%). Mean follow-up was 8.7 (0.1-13.4) years. Survival without ischaemic stroke or cerebral haemorrhage at 5 and 10 years were 90% and 74%, respectively. Nineteen patients experienced an ischaemic stroke, of which 4 were fatal. Five of 34 patients (14.7%) with a history of stroke preoperatively experienced ischaemic stroke during follow-up. The linearized rate of ischaemic stroke per patient-year was 0.6% and was similar regardless of left atrial appendage closure during surgery or whether a mechanical valve was inserted. The observed ischaemic stroke rate was lower than the predicted rate for all CHA2DS2-VASc score groups. Fourteen patients suffered cerebral bleeding, of which 3 were fatal. Patients who experienced cerebral bleeding were older and had higher mechanical valve implantation rate than those without cerebral bleeding.ConclusionsSurgery for mitral valve insufficiency and concomitant Cox-maze IV can be performed with low perioperative risk. There is a low continuing risk of stroke long-term postoperatively that correlates with a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score. Patients with preoperative stroke are at increased risk of postoperative stroke despite atrial fibrillation surgery.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To use novel statistical methods for analyzing the effect of lesion set on (long-standing) persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network trial of surgical ablation during mitral valve surgery (MVS). METHODS:Two hundred sixty such patients were randomized to MVS + surgical ablation or MVS alone. Ablation was randomized between pulmonary vein isolation and biatrial maze. During 12 months postsurgery, 228 patients (88%) submitted 7949 transtelephonic monitoring (TTM) recordings, analyzed for AF, atrial flutter (AFL), or atrial tachycardia (AT). As previously reported, more ablation than MVS-alone patients were free of AF or AF/AFL at 6 and 12 months (63% vs 29%; P < .001) by 72-hour Holter monitoring, without evident difference between lesion sets (for which the trial was underpowered). RESULTS:Estimated freedom from AF/AFL/AT on any transmission trended higher after biatrial maze than pulmonary vein isolation (odds ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.95-5.65; P = .07) 3 to 12 months postsurgery; estimated AF/AFL/AT load (ie, proportion of TTM strips recording AF/AFL/AT) was similar (odds ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-1.43; P = .6). Within 12 months, estimated prevalence of AF/AFL/AT by TTM was 58% after MVS alone, and 36% versus 23% after pulmonary vein isolation versus biatrial maze (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS:Statistical modeling using TTM recordings after MVS in patients with (long-standing) persistent AF suggests that a biatrial maze is associated with lower AF/AFL/AT prevalence, but not a lower load, compared with pulmonary vein isolation. The discrepancy between AF/AFL/AT prevalence assessed at 2 time points by Holter monitoring versus weekly TTM suggests the need for a confirmatory trial, reassessment of definitions for failure after ablation, and validation of statistical methods for assessing atrial rhythms longitudinally.
Project description:ObjectiveThe Cox maze IV procedure (CMPIV) has been established as the gold standard for surgical ablation; however, late outcomes using current consensus definitions of treatment failure have not been well described. To compare to reported outcomes of catheter-based ablation, we report our institutional outcomes of patients who underwent a left-sided or biatrial CMPIV at 5 years of follow-up.MethodsBetween January 2002 and September 2014, data were collected prospectively on 576 patients with AF who underwent a CMPIV (n = 532) or left-sided CMPIV (n = 44). Perioperative variables and long-term freedom from AF, with and without AADs, were compared in multiple subgroups.ResultsFollow-up at any time point was 89%. At 5 years, overall freedom from AF was 93 of 119 (78%), and freedom from AF off AADs was 77 of 177 (66%). No differences were found in freedom from AF, with or without AADs, at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years for patients with paroxysmal AF (n = 204) versus with persistent/longstanding persistent AF (n = 305), or for those who underwent standalone versus a concomitant CMP. Duration of preoperative AF and hospital length of stay were the best predictors of failure at 5 years.ConclusionsThe outcomes of the CMPIV remain good at late follow-up. The type of preoperative AF or the addition of a concomitant procedure did not affect late success. The results of the CMPIV remain superior to those reported for catheter ablation and other forms of surgical AF ablation, especially for patients with persistent or longstanding AF.
Project description:BackgroundThere was limited evidence on the clinical benefits of the concomitant Cox-Maze procedure with aortic valve replacement (AVR) in patients with atrial fibrillation. This study aimed to evaluate the early and long-term results of the concomitant Cox-Maze procedure in patients undergoing AVR for aortic valve disease.MethodsWe enrolled 101 patients who underwent AVR and had preoperative atrial fibrillation between January 1994 and December 2020. The early- and long-term clinical outcomes were compared between patients who underwent the concomitant Cox-Maze III procedures and those who did not undergo surgical ablation. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to adjust for differences in preoperative characteristics.ResultsForty-seven patients underwent the concomitant Cox-Maze III procedure (CM group), and 54 patients did not undergo surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation (non-CM group). There were no significant differences in early surgical outcomes between the two groups, except for a higher occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the CM group (P<0.001). The median follow-up duration was 70.7 months (interquartile range 36.2-118.8 months), and there were no significant differences in overall survival, thromboembolic complications, and anticoagulation-related bleeding between the two groups. Atrial fibrillation occurrence was significantly lower (P<0.001) in the CM group, and a greater number of patients discontinued anticoagulation in the CM group compared to the non-CM group (P=0.001).ConclusionsThe concomitant Cox-Maze procedure in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing AVR did not increase early mortality or morbidity, except for AKI, and showed favorable long-term results in terms of rhythm outcome and anticoagulation discontinuation.
Project description:Cardiac adipose tissue is a well-known risk factor for the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency catheter ablation, but its correlation with maze surgery remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the recurrence of AF and the adipose component of the left atrium (LA) in patients who underwent a modified Cox maze (CM) III procedure. We reviewed the pathology data of resected LA tissues from 115 patients, including the adipose tissue from CM-III procedures. The mean follow-up duration was 30.05 ± 23.96 months. The mean adipose tissue component in the AF recurrence group was 16.17% ± 14.32%, while in the non-recurrence group, it was 9.48% ± 10.79% (p = 0.021), and the cut-off value for the adipose component for AF recurrence was 10% (p = 0.010). The rates of freedom from AF recurrence at 1, 3, and 5 years were 84.8%, 68.8%, and 38.6%, respectively, in the high-adipose group (≥10%), and 96.3%, 89.7%, and 80.3%, respectively, in the low-adipose group (<10%; p = 0.002). A high adipose component (≥10%) in the LA is a significant risk factor for AF recurrence after CM-III procedures. Thus, it may be necessary to attempt to reduce the perioperative adipose portion of the cardiac tissue using a statin in a randomized study.
Project description:Objective: Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent persistent arrhythmia in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Comparative analyses of the safety and effectiveness of septal myectomy with and without surgical ablation are limited. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of septal myectomy with and without the Cox-maze IV procedure in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation. Methods: Ninety-four patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation who underwent septal myectomy were analyzed, we divided it into concomitant Cox maze surgery (Cox-maze group) and no concomitant Cox maze operation (no Cox-maze group). Freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence and all-cause mortality after surgery were assessed. Results: Freedom from all-cause mortality after septal myectomy at 1, 3, and 5 years was 98.5 ± 1.5% each in the Cox-maze group and 90.8 ± 6.3%, 85.1 ± 8.1%, and 85.1 ± 8.1%, respectively, in the no Cox-maze group. Patients in the no Cox-maze group had lower survival, freedom from atrial fibrillation recurrence off antiarrhythmic drugs, and arrhythmia control rate (including patients with successful antiarrhythmic drug conversion) than those in the Cox-maze group (P = 0.046, P = 0.040, and P = 0.012, respectively). Patients who underwent the Cox-maze IV procedure had lower atrial fibrillation recurrence rate than those who did not (hazard ratio, 0.141; 95% confidence interval, 0.042-0.479; P = 0.002). Post-operative increases in left atrial diameters (hazard ratio, 1.099; 95% confidence interval, 1.024-1.179; P = 0.009) were associated with atrial fibrillation recurrence. Conclusions: The Cox-maze IV procedure combined with septal myectomy improved mid-term survival and reduced mid-term atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation. The concomitant Cox-maze IV procedure was associated with a lower atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with surgical hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.
Project description:ObjectiveObesity is a strong and independent factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), and adversely impacts the success of catheter ablation procedures for AF. This study evaluated the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the outcomes following surgical ablation of AF.MethodsBetween 2003 and 2019, 236 patients underwent a stand-alone biatrial Cox maze IV procedure (CMP-IV) for refractory AF. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Patients were divided into two groups: BMI <30 kg/m2 (n = 100) and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (n = 136). Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) was determined using electrocardiography, Holter, or pacemaker interrogation at 1 year and annually thereafter. Recurrence was defined as any documented ATA lasting ≥30 s. Predictors of recurrence were determined using multivariable logistic regression. Preoperative and procedural outcomes were compared between groups.ResultsObese patients had a higher rate of diabetes (16% vs 7%, P = 0.044) and larger left atrial diameter (4.9 ± 1.1 cm vs 4.6 ± 1.0 cm, P = 0.021) when compared to non-obese patients. There was no difference in major complication rate between the groups (4% vs 7%, P = 0.389). There was no operative mortality in either group. During 4.1 ± 2.4 years of follow-up, there was no significant difference in freedom from ATA with or without antiarrhythmic drugs in obese patients when compared to the non-obese group (P > 0.05). Absence of sinus rhythm at discharge predicted AF recurrence up to 7 years postoperatively.ConclusionsAs opposed to catheter ablation, obesity did not adversely impact the short and long-term outcomes of stand-alone surgical ablation with CMP-IV, and BMI was not a predictor of AF recurrence. Additionally, there was no significant increase in major complications in obese patients.
Project description:BackgroundAmong patients undergoing mitral-valve surgery, 30 to 50% present with atrial fibrillation, which is associated with reduced survival and increased risk of stroke. Surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation has been widely adopted, but evidence regarding its safety and effectiveness is limited.MethodsWe randomly assigned 260 patients with persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation who required mitral-valve surgery to undergo either surgical ablation (ablation group) or no ablation (control group) during the mitral-valve operation. Patients in the ablation group underwent further randomization to pulmonary-vein isolation or a biatrial maze procedure. All patients underwent closure of the left atrial appendage. The primary end point was freedom from atrial fibrillation at both 6 months and 12 months (as assessed by means of 3-day Holter monitoring).ResultsMore patients in the ablation group than in the control group were free from atrial fibrillation at both 6 and 12 months (63.2% vs. 29.4%, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in the rate of freedom from atrial fibrillation between patients who underwent pulmonary-vein isolation and those who underwent the biatrial maze procedure (61.0% and 66.0%, respectively; P=0.60). One-year mortality was 6.8% in the ablation group and 8.7% in the control group (hazard ratio with ablation, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.32 to 1.84; P=0.55). Ablation was associated with more implantations of a permanent pacemaker than was no ablation (21.5 vs. 8.1 per 100 patient-years, P=0.01). There were no significant between-group differences in major cardiac or cerebrovascular adverse events, overall serious adverse events, or hospital readmissions.ConclusionsThe addition of atrial fibrillation ablation to mitral-valve surgery significantly increased the rate of freedom from atrial fibrillation at 1 year among patients with persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation, but the risk of implantation of a permanent pacemaker was also increased. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00903370.).