Concomitant MAZE procedure during cardiac surgical procedures: is there any survival advantage in conversion to sinus rhythm?

AIM: The MAZE procedure, or concomitant intraoperative ablation, is an effective technique to restore long-term sinus rhythm (SR). The survival benefit of conversion to SR has been questioned recently. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the conversion rate to SR and its correlation with long-term survival in 209 patients with chronic AF, who had a MAZE procedure during cardiac surgical procedures between the years 2006 and 2011 at our institution. The mean age was 67.2 ± 12.0 years and 52.2% were female (N. = 109). Perioperative mortality was 5.74% (N. = 12). RESULTS: In univariate analysis, significant risk factors for perioperative mortality were age (P = 0.0033), duration of perfusion time (P = 0.0093), elevated creatinine (≥ 1.6 mg/dL, P = .02), and cross clamp time (P = 0.016). In multivariate analysis age (HR 2.97) and duration of perfusion time (HR 1.48) were the only independent predictors of perioperative mortality. The overall one and five-year survival rates were 88% ± 2.2%, and 76% ± 3.3%, respectively. The one and five-year survival rates for patients who converted and were in sinus rhythm (SR) upon discharge (N. = 154) were 88% ± 2.6% and 80% ± 3.5%, respectively. While the one and five-year survival rates for patients who were still in AF upon discharge (N. = 55) were 94% ± 3% and 82% ± 6.6%, respectively, this survival difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.24). Significant risk factors for long-term mortality included DM (P = 0.023), preoperative MI (P = 0.043), preoperative renal insufficiency (creatinine, ≥ 1.6 mg/dL, P = 0.02) and asthma/COPD (P = 0.040). In multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.048) and preoperative MI (HR 1.948) were the only independent predictors of long-term mortality. CONCLUSION: The surgical MAZE procedure has a high conversion rate, however, our data did not show improved survival in patients who converted to SR prior to discharge.