Massive primary pulmonary artery rhabomyosarcoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery sarcomas (PAS) are rare tumours causing an insidiously progressive obstruction of the pulmonary circulation. The clinical presentation is often indistinguishable from chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, the atypical appearance of a heterogeneous filling defect in CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) should prompt further investigation. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy young man presented with massive haemoptysis, acute respiratory distress, and progressive exertional dyspnea since the year before. Echocardiography demonstrated severe right ventricular dysfunction and highly probable pulmonary hypertension. CTPA revealed an extensive filling defect with an appearance concerning PAS. Due to syncopal episodes at rest, the patient underwent urgent pulmonary artery endarterectomy (PEA). A massive tree-like tumour was excised as a result. Post-operatively, reperfusion injury and refractory pulmonary oedema mandated extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Unfortunately, ECMO was complicated with massive haemolysis and acute kidney injury. The patient succumbed to multi-organ failure. Through tissue analysis established a diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. DISCUSSION: Unfortunately, the patient had not reached out for his worsening dyspnea. PASs should not be mistaken for a thrombus and anticoagulation should be avoided. The urgent condition precluded biopsy and tissue diagnosis. Similarly, neoadjuvant chemotherapy was not feasible. Post-operatively, reperfusion injury and pulmonary oedema ensued, which mandated ECMO. This complication should be anticipated preoperatively. There is a need for more data on PASs to establish a consensus for management.

Novel Aortic Valve Replacement Technique for Reducing Complete Heart Block.

Background: Aortic valve replacement (AVR) may complicate conduction abnormalities and require permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation. New techniques that lessen this challenge may lead to the development of new approaches. Our objective was to evaluate the contemporary incidence of early postoperative PPM implantation in patients undergoing isolated AVR and root disease with the standard AVR surgical technique compared with the novel suture AVR technique. Methods: The clinical data of 354 patients (250 male, 104 female) who underwent surgery for isolated AVR and root disease in different referral cardiology departments in Tabriz, Iran, over 4 years were analyzed. Patients with preoperative significant conduction abnormalities were excluded from the study. The patients were evaluated for in-hospital mortality, postoperative PPM implantation, and their stay in the ICU after surgery. Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.46±16.13 years. Totally, 183 patients (51.7%) were operated on with the new suture AVR technique. In-hospital mortality was lower in this group than in the group that underwent the "classic" surgical technique (2.5% vs 3.7%). PPM implantation was required in 3 patients (0.8%) after the novel suture AVR technique, whereas it was needed in 12 patients (3.4%) in the other group (P=0.024). The mortality rate was 9 patients (2.5%) in group 1 and 13 patients (3.7%) in group 2, which was not statistically significant (P=0.296). According to the logistic regression, the survival rate in the group operated on with the classical surgical method was 0.27 times higher than that in the patients operated on with the new method. Conclusion: Permanent complete AV block is a critical complication after AVR surgery. A lower PPM requirement and higher survival in patients operated on with the new method was the main finding of this study. New techniques with lower PPM requirements may be suitable for cardiac surgery.

Vegetation Formation and Aortitis as a Possible Sequela of COVID-19 in a Patient with an Aortic Stent: A Case Report.

Bacteria, especially staphylococcal groups, cause aortic graft infection. Infection stems from synthetic materials that repair aneurysms or artery blockages. Aortic stent infection and vegetation formation are rare, and heterogeneous presentations and ambiguous findings in routine diagnostic modalities render the diagnosis challenging. A 25-year-old man with a history of catheter-based aortic stenting for hypertension associated with severe aortic coarctation was referred to our tertiary care hospital. Five months before the presentation, the patient had been infected with COVID-19, but he recovered after mild symptoms. Nevertheless, 3 months later, he developed erythematous lesions, progressive anorexia, epigastric pain, fever, and weakness. The results of blood tests, blood cultures, transthoracic echocardiography, plain chest radiography, computed tomography angiography, and electrocardiography were unremarkable. We found severe infectious aortitis, crescent thickness surrounding the aorta, pseudoaneurysm development, and a mass with dimensions of 17 mm×8 mm within the aortic stent on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated, and the patient was transferred to the operating room, where the infected stent and adhesive vegetation were removed. The patient recovered remarkably after the surgery and was discharged. At 6 months' follow-up, he was in good condition. Our findings highlight the significance of maintaining vigilance and a high level of clinical suspicion for the possibility of vegetation formation and aortitis as the possible sequelae of COVID-19, particularly in patients with an implanted stent. Furthermore, we strongly suggest TEE in patients with implanted stents to detect vegetation and aortitis.

Laser-Produced Cavitation Bubble Behavior in Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Liquid Inside a Rigid Cylinder: Numerical Study of Liquid Disc Microjet Impact Using OpenFOAM.

This study employs OpenFOAM to analyze the behavior of a single laser-produced cavitation bubble in a Newtonian/non-Newtonian fluid inside a rigid cylinder. This research aimed to numerically calculate the impact of liquid disc microjet resulting from the growth and collapse of the laser-produced bubble to the cylinder wall to take advantage of the cavitation phenomenon in various industrial and medical applications, such as modeling how to remove calcification lesions in coronary arteries. In addition, by introducing the main study cases in which a single bubble with different initial conditions is produced by a laser in the center/off-center of a cylinder with different orientations relative to the horizon, filled with a stationary or moving Newtonian/Non-Newtonian liquid, the general behavior of the bubble in the stages of growth and collapse and the formation of liquid disk microjet and its impact is examined. The study demonstrates that the presence of initial velocity in water affects the amount of microjet impact proportional to the direction of gravity. Moreover, the relationship between the laser energy and the initial conditions of the bubble and the disk microjet impact on the cylinder wall is expressed.

Single-Center Experience of Pulmonary Endarterectomy for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension: The Results from the Tabriz University Medical Sciences (TUMS) CTEPH Program.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) remains the preferred and potentially curative option for patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). This study aimed to report the results of PEA for CTEPH in a tertiary center in Tabriz, Iran. METHODS: We analyzed the results of 42 CTEPH patients undergoing PEA, who were enrolled in the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (TUMS-CTEPH) from January 2016 to October 2020. The main outcome measures included the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, the 6-Minute Walk Distance, hemodynamic measures in right heart catheterization, morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the NYHA function class (2.6 ± 0.5 vs 1.1 ± 0.34), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (47.1 ± 13 vs 27.9 ± 8 mm Hg), cardiac output (4.3 ± 1.06 vs 5.9 ± 1.2 L/min), and pulmonary vascular resistance (709.4 ± 297.5 vs 214 ± 77 dyn s/cm5). Fifteen patients (35%) developed complications. The most common complication (10 [23%]) was reperfusion injury. Also, postsurgical mortality was 4% during hospital admission and 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: This is the first single-center report of PEA from Iran. Post-PEA and 1-year survival were acceptable as a referral center. PEA can be performed safe with low mortality. Greater awareness of PEA and patients' access to experienced CTEPH centers are important issues.

Carotid artery stenting prior to coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with carotid stenosis: Clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Management of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with obstructive disease of the carotid arteries is still a matter of debate. We compared the results of staged carotid artery stenting (CAS) before CABG in patients with carotid lesions. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Patients with significant carotid artery disease who were deemed to simultaneously suffer from an obstructive coronary artery disease requiring CABG from 2008 to 2018 were screened and enrolled in this study. We performed a staged CAS in cases with ≥60% stenosis and neurological symptoms or asymptomatic patients with ≥80% carotid artery stenosis. Patients with bilateral carotid lesions received sequential CAS within three weeks. Six weeks after the CAS procedure, all patients underwent CABG. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients were included. Eighty-five of these had neurological symptoms, while the remaining 40% were asymptomatic. Thirty-one patients underwent sequential CAS for bilateral lesions. The cerebrovascular event (CVE) following CAS (3 patients) and CABG (3 patients) was 4.2%. There was only a single case of mortality in this cohort. Although it was not statistically significant, CVE after CABG was more frequent in patients with bilateral carotid disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that staged CAS could be performed with minimal adverse outcomes in patients suffering from a simultaneous occlusive disease of carotids and coronary arteries before CABG. Bilateral CAS will further decrease cerebrovascular events and could be performed consequently or concomitantly.

The effect of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on oxidative stress markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Recent trial studies have found that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplementation beneficially reduces oxidative stress markers but, there is no definitive consensus on this context. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of CLA supplementation on oxidative stress parameters. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases until September 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing CLA supplementation effects on oxidative markers including malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-isoprostanesF2α (8-iso-PGF2α), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Summary estimates and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were derived via the DerSimonian and Laird method using a random-effects model. RESULTS: A total of 11 RCTs were included. The obtained results show that CLA supplementation caused a significant decrease in MDA concentrations (Hedges's: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.70 to -0.01, P = 0.04, I2 = 62.1%, n = 7), and also significantly increased 8-iso-PGF2α levels (Hedges's: 1.45; 95% CI: 0.98 to 1.91, P˂0.001, I2 = 42.9%, n = 4). However, the results showed that supplementation with CLA did not significantly change the concentrations of GPx (Hedges's: 0.30; 95% CI: -0.04 to 0.64, P = 0.08, I2 = 0.0%, n = 3). CONCLUSION: It seems this supplement can be used as a dietary supplement to improve oxidative stress parameters. However, further studies are required to demonstrate present results.

Outcome of Surgery for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Disease without Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a serious condition that results from incomplete resolution of thromboemboli in pulmonary arteries. Symptomatic patients with chronic thromboembolic disease may have normal hemodynamic at rest. The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) in symptomatic patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary disease (CTEPD) in the absence of pulmonary hypertension as currently defined (mean pulmonary artery pressure [mPAP] < 20 mm Hg). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Here, we report four symptomatic patients with chronic thromboembolic and normal hemodynamic at rest (mPAP ≤20 mm Hg or 20 < mPAP < 25 mm Hg and pulmonary vascular resistance [PVR] < 240 dyn·s/cm5) who underwent PEA between September 2015 and September 2019. The main outcome measures were functional New York Heart Association class, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), hemodynamic measures in right heart catheterization (RHC), morbidity, and mortality. RESULTS: There were significant improvement in function class (2.6 ± 0.54 vs. 1 ± 0.2, p = 0.00), mPAP (preoperative: 23.3 ± 0.5 mm Hg vs. postoperative: 18.6 ± 1.5 mm Hg, p = 0.02), 6MWD (preoperative: 378.2 ± 68.7 m vs. postoperative: 432.9 ± 44.5 m, p = 0.01), and PVR (215.33 ± 91 vs. 101 ± 32 dyn·s/cm5, p = 0.1) 6 months after surgery based on data from RHC which was done during exercise. Also, RHC showed a significant decrease in mPAP (preoperative: 37 ± 7.7 mm Hg vs. postoperative 28 ± 3.2 mm Hg, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: PEA could improve function class and hemodynamic in patients with CTEPD. Considering hemodynamic improvement in this group of patients after PEA, definition of CTEPH may need to be revised.

A novel inflammatory signaling pathway in patients with slow coronary flow: NF-κB/IL-1ß/nitric oxide.

PURPOSE: The slow coronary flow (SCF) was identified as delayed opacification of epicardial coronary arteries in the absence of stenotic lesion. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), oxidative stress, and inflammation may be possible known insulting factors for the pathogenesis of SCF. This investigation aimed to assess the relationship between some inflammatory markers, oxidative stress parameters and MetS components with SCF phenomenon. METHODS: A total of 35 patients with SCF and 35 subjects with normal coronary flow (NCF) were included in the study. We assessed some inflammatory markers (IL-1ß, IL-18, TNF-α, and NF-κB mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)). Moreover, blood samples of the participants were tested for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and nitric oxide (NO) levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Diagnosis of MetS was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III report (ATPIII) criteria, 2005. Diagnostic criteria for coronary flow rates of all subjects were documented by thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count method. RESULTS: SCF patients had significantly higher prevalence of MetS (46%, p = 0.048).We found that the level of TAC was significantly higher in the NCF group (p = 0.006). Furthermore, the NO concentration was significantly lower in SCF groups (p = 0.001). A significant incremental difference was detected in IL-1ß (fold change 2.82 ± 0.31, p < 0.05) and NF-κB (fold change 4.62 ± 0.32, p < 0.05) mRNA expression in the SCF group when compared with its level in the NCF group. Furthermore, according to logistic regression analysis, there were significant associations between IL-1ß, NF-κB expression levels and the incidence of SCF (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, the pathogenesis of the SCF phenomenon may be closely associated with metabolic syndrome and inflammation. The NF-κB/IL-1ß/nitric oxide & MetS signaling pathway might be considered as potential therapeutic targets in the management of SCF patients but further researches is required to guarantee these findings.

Iranian Society of Cardiac Surgeons COVID-19 task force version II, restarting elective surgeries.

Given the nature of heart disease and the importance of continuing heart surgery during the pandemic and its aftermath and in order to provide adequate safety for the surgical team and achieve the desired result for patients, as well as the optimal use of ICU beds, the medical team, blood, blood products, and personal protective equipment, it is essential to change the usual approach during the pandemic. There are still a lot of evidences and experiences needed to produce the perfect protocol. Some centers may have a special program for their centers during this period of epidemics that can be respected and performed. Generally, in pandemic conditions, the use of non-surgical approaches is preferred if similar outcomes can be obtained.

Evaluation of the Incidence of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension 1 Year After First Episode of Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an important complication after acute pulmonary embolism (PE) with considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to estimate the CTEPH incidence in a cohort after the first occurrence of PE. METHODS: We conducted a 1-year follow-up cohort study between 2015 and 2018 to assess the incidence of CTEPH in 474 patients with their first acute episode of PE. For the diagnosis of CTEPH, patients with unexplained persistent dyspnea during follow-up underwent transthoracic echocardiography, right heart catheterization, ventilation-perfusion lung scanning, and CT pulmonary angiography. RESULTS: Overall, 317 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 56.5 ± 16 years. One hundred and three patients (32%) had exertional dyspnea at the 1-year follow-up. Patients with evidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on echocardiography underwent right heart catheterization. Eleven patients (18%) had no PH (mPAP < 25 mmHg); 47 patients (81%) had mPAP > 25 mmHg. Fifteen patients had PAWP > 15 mmHg, including those with underlying left heart problems or valvular diseases. There were 32 patients with PAH (mPAP > 25 mmHg and PVR > 3 WU) undergoing CTEPH studies; 22 patients (6.9%) had multiple segmental defects suggesting CTEPH on a perfusion scan. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CTEPH observed in this study 1 year after the first episode of acute PE was approximately 6.9%. This incidence seems to be high in our population, and diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for the early identification of CTEPH are needed.

Giant mass but small symptoms; huge thrombosis in the right atrium originating from the superior vena cava and protruding to the right ventricle: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Thrombosis of the superior vena cava with propagation to the right heart chambers can be seen in the presence of chronic indwelling catheters. Moreover, the idiopathic right atrial thrombi may become entrapped in Chiari's networks, and idiopathic thrombosis of the superior vena cava may occur rarely because of the underlying coagulation disorders or malignancies. CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old Iranian (Persian) woman was admitted to our hospital with palpitation of 2 years' duration and mild to moderate dyspnea of 10 days' duration. Her past medical history, basic laboratory test results, and cardiac enzyme measurements were unremarkable. Imaging studies revealed a 1.4-cm × 7.4-cm multilobulated, hypermobile mass in the right atrium, extending into the right ventricle, that appeared to be emanating from the superior vena cava. Moreover, partial filling defects were visible in the distal parts of both right and left pulmonary arteries extending to their branches, suggesting massive pulmonary emboli. The patient's huge mass and emboli were removed by surgery, and pathologic evaluations confirmed that all of the specimens were thrombosis. A number of mutations known as risk factors of thrombosis were detected during genetic evaluations. However, mild symptoms of the patient along with a huge mass in the right atrium, thrombosis in the superior vena cava, and massive thromboembolism remained unexplained. CONCLUSION: Huge and dangerous thrombosis inside the heart and superior vena cava can evolve without expected considerable symptoms. Also, detecting the underlying causes of these thromboses sometimes is not feasible by only checking the prevalent known risk factors. Therefore, comprehensive evaluations should be carried out in these patients.

Left Atrial Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma with Right Atrium Invasion.

BACKGROUND: Primary cardiac tumors are rare (0.001 to 0.03%). Malignant tumors account for 25%, of which 75% are cardiac sarcomas. CASE PERSENTATION: Here, we report a case of a 57-year-old male with palpitation and history of left atrial (LA) myxoma resection presented to cardiology clinic for postsurgical follow up and transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large non-homogenous mass in LA with right atrium invasion, which was confirmed by trans-esophageal echocardiography. The patient underwent surgical resection of tumor and the pathological diagnosis was malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). CONCLUSION: MFH could be asymptomatic and the diagnosis be established as a surgical or complementary examination. In patients with history of myxoma resection and cardiac masses, further evaluation is recommended.

Construction and Development of a Cardiac Tissue-Specific and Hypoxia-Inducible Expression Vector.

Purpose: Cardiovascular gene therapy is a sophisticated approach, thanks to the safety of vectors, stable transgene expression, delivery method, and different layers of the heart. To date, numerous expression vectors have been introduced in biotechnology and biopharmacy industries in relation to genetic manipulation. Despite the rapid growth of these modalities, they must be intelligently designed, addressing the cardiac-specific transgene expression and less side effects. Herein, we conducted a pilot project aiming to design a cardiac-specific hypoxia-inducible expression cassette. Methods: We explored a new approach to design an expression cassette containing cardiac specific enhancer, hypoxia response elements (HRE), cardiac specific promoter, internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and beta globin poly A sequence to elicit specific and inducible expression of the gene of interest. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was sub-cloned by BglII and NotI into the cassette. The specificity and inducible expression of the cassette was determined in both mouse myoblast C2C12 and mammary glandular tumor 4T1 as 'twin' cells. eGFP expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscope and flow cytometry at 520 nm emission peak. Results: Our data revealed that the designed expression cassette provided tissue specific and hypoxia inducible (O2<1%) transgene expression. Conclusion: It is suggested that cardiac-specific enhancer combined with cardiac-specific promoter are efficient for myoblast specific gene expression. As well, this is for the first time that HRE are derived from three well known hypoxia-regulated promoters. Therefore, there is no longer need to overlap PCR process for one repeated sequence just in one promoter.

The frequency of initial misdiagnosis of acute aortic dissection in the emergency department and its impact on outcome.

We determine the frequency of initial misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment with antiplatelets/anticoagulants in the emergency department (ED) and the resultant clinical outcomes in patients with acute type A aortic dissection (AAOD). Medical records of patients with a final diagnosis of AAOD admitted from March 2004 through October 2015 to our tertiary-level heart hospital were evaluated. Patients with suspected dissection in ED were compared to those with initial misdiagnosis regarding demographics and clinical presentation, laboratory and echocardiographic findings. Our primary outcome was hospital mortality in two groups. Long-term mortality after discharge was our secondary outcome. Among 189 patients, 47 (24.8 %) were initially misdiagnosed and received antiplatelets/anticoagulants in ED (Group F), and 142 (75.1 %) were appropriately diagnosed in ED (Group T). The mean age in group F was 60.4 ± 15.0 vs. 57.4 ± 16.0 years in group T (p = 0.260). In group F, 70.2 % were male vs. 60.6 % in group T (p = 0.311). Hospital mortality was 48.9 % in group F vs. 43.7 % in group T (p = 0.645). Long-term mortality was significantly higher in group F (55.6 vs. 21.2 %, p = 0.007). Univariate hazard ratio (HR) of initial misdiagnosis for long-term mortality was 2.56 (95 % CI 1.08-6.06, p = 0.031). In multivariate Cox regression analysis with adjustment for age and type of management (surgical/medical), initial misdiagnosis lost its significance for predicting long-term mortality (HR 2.14, 95 % CI 0.89-5.13, p = 0.086). Initial misdiagnosis of AAOD is a common problem. Hospital mortality is not significantly affected by receiving antiplatelets/anticoagulants. Although long-term mortality is higher in patients with initial misdiagnosis, it is not an independent predictor for long-term mortality.

Electrocardiography changes in acute aortic dissection-association with troponin leak, coronary anatomy, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiography (ECG) offers some information that may be used to prognosticate acute type A aortic dissection (AAOD) for short- and long-term mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the electrocardiograms of patients with AAOD admitted from March 2004 to March 2015. The frequency of ECG findings and their prognostic value on hospital and follow-up mortality were investigated. Findings pertaining to coronary involvement and troponin level were also examined. RESULTS: A total of 120 men and 64 women were admitted. Acute ischemic changes were reported in 38.0%, whereas T inversion was the most common recorded abnormality, which occurred in 38.6%. Acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction was detected in 16.3%. Troponin increased in 36.6%; 21.9% of the patients underwent coronary angiography among which 70% were normal. Coronary involvement or troponin increase was not different in patients with acute ECG changes. During hospitalization, 45.7% of the patients died. In multivariate analyses, ST elevation in lead aVR was associated with higher hospital death (odds ratio, 5.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-25.73; P = .038), whereas QRS greater than 120 milliseconds was associated with long-term mortality (hazard ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.25-3.76; P = .006). CONCLUSION: Acute ischemic ECG changes are common in AAOD, and a completely normal ECG is infrequently encountered. Acute ECG changes were not associated with the increased troponin or the presence of coronary lesions in angiography.

Freedom from atrial fibrillation after cox maze III ablation during follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 60% of patients undergoing mitral valve (MV) operations are affected by atrial fibrillation (AF). Cox Maze III ablation is one of the effective ways for restoring sinus rhythm for patients undergoing open heart surgery. The aim of present study was to evaluate efficacy of Maze III ablation procedure for restoring sinus rhythm among patients who had underwent open heart surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: During present descriptive-analytic prospective study 114 patients with chronic AF had undergone open heart surgery for their valvular or coronary artery diseases in Educational-Medical centres of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (Tabriz, Iran) 2006-2012, were included in the study. For all patients Maze III ablation was done. Patients were evaluated by 12 lead electrocardiography (ECG) and 24 hours ambulatory ECG monitoring after 3-6 years (mean 4.8) of follow-up. RESULT: Patients' rhythm before Cox Maze III surgery was chronic AF in all patients. All patients were discharged from operating room with sinus rhythm. During intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization, rhythm of 34 patients changed to AF and 80 patients had sinus rhythm. Sixteen patients had undergone electrical cardioversion for restoring sinus rhythm which was successful in 12 patients. Ninety-two patients had sinus rhythm when discharged from the hospital. After termination of follow-up, freedom from atrial fibrillation was 51%. Patients with AF during follow-up on surface ECG didn't have episodes of sinus rhythm in their ambulatory monitoring. One patient implanted cardiac pacemaker due to persistent sinus bradycardia. CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, Cox Maze III ablation procedure is an effective and safe way for restoring sinus rhythm among patients who are candidate for open heart surgery, while no significant complication was seen among patients.