813-2 Mitral Valvuloplasty Combined with the Maze Procedure

Mitral valve repair is the preferred procedure of choice for mitral regurgitation. Mitral valve disease is frequently associated with atrial fibrillation. Advantages of mitral valve repair are decreased in the patient with chronic atrial fibrillation. Mitral valve repair was combined with the Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation in 12 patients from November 1991 to June 1994. The average age of the 6 men and 6 women was 56 years (42–67 years). All patients had atrial fibrillation for greater than one year. Pre-operatively 9 patients had 4+ mitral regurgitation, 2 had 3+ mitral regurgitation, and 1 patient had mitral stenosis. All patients underwent successful mitral valve repair followed by the Maze procedure. Mean cross-clamp time was 78 minutes and cardio-pulmonary bypass time was 131 minutes. There was no hospital mortality. One patient died 2.5 months after the procedure. Postoperatively 7 patients had no mitral regurgitation, 3 had 1+ and 2 had 2+ mitral regurgitation. Patients resumed normal sinus rhythm an average of 7 days (2–20) after surgery. At last follow-up 9 patients were in normal sinus rhythm, one patient underwent radio frequency ablation for focus of atrial tachycardia and one patient underwent placement of a permanent pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome. Mitral valve repair combined with the Maze procedure is a safe operation with satisfactory results