Left and right atrial transport function after the Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation: an echocardiographic Doppler follow-up study
Abstract
We evaluated atrial transport function after the Maze procedure in long-term follow-up and compared left and right atrial function in Maze patients with that of healthy age-matched controls using echo Doppler techniques. The Maze procedure is designed to eliminate atrial fibrillation, restore normal sinus rhythm, and preserve atrial contraction. Initial data indicate that atrial transport function is restored in most patients undergoing the Maze procedure. The long-term echo Doppler evaluation of patients after the Maze procedure has not been well described. We performed pulsed-wave Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies on 31 patients (24 men, mean age 53.8 years) who underwent the Maze procedure and who had a follow-up study greater than 3 months (mean 16.5 months) after the procedure. Measurements included peak left ventricular and right ventricular inflow A-wave velocity, maximum and minimum left atrial and right atrial areas, and fractional area change of the left and right atria. Results were compared with those obtained from 15 age-matched control subjects (11 men, mean age 53.8 years). Twenty-two patients (71%) had left atrial function shown by the presence of left ventricular inflow A-wave, and 25 patien...Continue Reading
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