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Ann Thorac Surg 2006;82:494-501
© 2006 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Original article: Cardiovascular

Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Atrial Fibrillation: Restoration of Sinus Rhythm by the Cox-Maze Procedure Significantly Improves Systolic Function and Functional Status

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota

Accepted for publication March 24, 2006.

^_* Address correspondence to Dr Schaff, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905 (Email: schaff{at}mayo.edu).

Presented at the Fifty-second Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Orlando, FL, Nov 10–12, 2005.

BACKGROUND: Atrial flutter or fibrillation with rapid, uncontrolled ventricular response may lead to left ventricular dysfunction, and conversion to sinus rhythm with control of heart rate can improve left ventricular ejection fraction. Little is known about the effects of the Cox-maze procedure on this form of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy.

METHODS: Four hundred forty-three patients underwent the Cox-maze procedure from 1993 to 2002. Ninety-nine had atrial flutter or fibrillation without associated valvular or congenital heart disease, and 37 (37%) had decreased left ventricular function (ejection fraction < 0.35 in 11 [severe], ejection fraction 0.36 to 0.45 in 8 [moderate], and ejection fraction 0.46 to 0.55 in 18 [mild]). Ages of these 37 patients (34 male) ranged from 35 to 74 years (median, 55 years).

RESULTS: Atrial flutter or fibrillation was present for 3 months to 19 years (median, 48 months) preoperatively, and 24 patients (65%) exhibited symptoms of heart failure. Preoperative ejection fraction ranged from 0.25 to 0.55 (median, 0.45). At last follow-up (median, 63 months), the Cox-maze procedure eliminated atrial flutter or fibrillation in all but 1 patient, and the greatest improvement was observed in patients with severe preoperative impairment (0.31 to 0.53; p = 0.01, preoperative versus follow-up), and patients with preoperative chronic atrial flutter or fibrillation (0.43 to 0.55; p < 0.05 preoperative versus follow-up). This improvement was observed immediately postoperatively and was sustained at last follow-up. Further, improvement in left ventricular function correlated with enhancement of functional status.

CONCLUSIONS: In some patients, atrial flutter or fibrillation may be the cause rather than the consequence of left ventricular dysfunction. Importantly, systolic function and functional status can be significantly improved with the restoration of sinus rhythm by the Cox-maze procedure.

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