Minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery for atrial fibrillation - A combined Japan-US experience

Noriyuki Matsutani, Bonpei Takase, Yuichi Ozeki, Tadaaki Maehara, Richard Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The cut-and-sew Maze procedure has historically been the most efficacious therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) that is refractory to medical management, but is not widely used as a stand-alone treatment for AF. New ablation technologies can create pulmonary vein (PV) isolation without cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods and Results: The 'thoracoscopic mini-Maze' procedure includes bilateral PV isolation, ablation of the epicardial ganglionated plexi and excision of the left atrial appendage using small bilateral thoracotomies with thoracoscopic assistance. Between January 2006 and April 2007, 20 thoracoscopic mini-Maze procedures were performed at 2 institutions and over a mean follow-up of 16,6 months, 18 (90%) patients are in sinus rhythm. Perioperative bleeding complications occurred in 3 patients (15%) and there was 1e (5%) late instance of atrial flutter that required a right-sided ablation. None of the patients died or needed a pacemaker. Conclusions: Early experience with the thoracoscopic mini-Maze procedure suggests that sinus rhythm can be re-established in most patients in the short-term and with more experience the rate of complications should reduce, which is required prior to defining the role of this therapy in the future treatment of AF.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)434-436
Number of pages3
JournalCirculation Journal
Volume72
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Minimally invasive cardiothoracic surgery
  • Thoracoscopic mini-Maze

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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