Non Atriotomy Epicardial Ablation for AF
This video demonstrates a novel non-atriotomy technique for
performing the maze procedure in patients undergoing non mitral valve open
heart surgery. It is estimated that only 15-25% of patients with atrial
fibrillation undergoing either coronary artery bypass or aortic valve
procedures receive a maze procedure(1). However, concomitant maze procedure is
recommended by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons guidelines as a Class I
indication for those undergoing CABG, AVR , or combination of both(2).
This video shows step by step instructions for performing an epicardial maze
with a combination of radiofrequency ablation and cryo. Intraoperative testing
of the pulmonary veins and posterior wall of the left atrium provides
information for entrance and exit block, enhancing the robust nature of the
lesion set. This technique is simple, safe, effective, and reproducible. The
entire lesion set adds approximately twenty minutes of bypass time and five to
ten minutes of cross clamp time.
References
1. Ad N, Holmes SD, Rongione AJ, Badhwar V, Wei L,
Fornaresio LM, Massimiano PS. The long-term safety and efficacy of concomitant
Cox maze procedures for atrial fibrillation in patients without mitral valve
disease.
.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 Apr;157(4):1505-1514. doi:
10.1016/j.jtcvs.2018.09.131. Epub 2018 Nov 22.
2. Badhwar V, Rankin JS, Damiano RJ Jr, Gillinov AM, Bakaeen FG, Edgerton JR,
Philpott JM, McCarthy PM, Bolling SF, Roberts HG, Thourani VH, Suri RM, Shemin
RJ, Firestone S, Ad N. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons 2017 Clinical Practice
Guidelines for the Surgical Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg.
2017 Jan;103(1):329-341. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2016.10.076. PMID: 28007240.
