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SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS UNDERGOING HIGH RISK CARDIAC SURGERY
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  • Mohsin Uzzaman,
  • Imthiaz Manoly,
  • Mohini Panikkar,
  • Maciej Matuszewski,
  • Nicolas Nikolaidis,
  • John Billing
Mohsin Uzzaman

Corresponding Author:cardiacsurgeon7@gmail.com

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Imthiaz Manoly
New Cross Hospital
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Mohini Panikkar
New Cross Hospital
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Maciej Matuszewski
New Cross Hospital
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Nicolas Nikolaidis
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John Billing
New Cross Hospital
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Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM To evaluate outcomes of concurrent Cox-Maze procedures in elderly patients undergoing high-risk cardiac surgery. MEHODS We retrospectively identified patients aged over 70 years with Atrial Fibrillation (AF) from 2011 to 2017 who had two or more other cardiac procedures. They were subdivided into two groups: 1. Cox-Maze IV AF ablation 2. No-Surgical AF treatment. Patients requiring redo procedures or those who had isolated PVI or LAAO were excluded. Heart rhythm assessed from Holter reports or 12-lead ECG. Follow-up data collected through telephone consultations and medical records. RESULTS There were 239 patients. Median follow up was 61 months. 70 patients had Cox-Maze IV procedures (29.3%). Demographic, intra- and post-operative outcomes were similar between groups although duration of pre-operative AF was shorter in Cox-Maze group (p=0.001). One (1.4%) patient in Cox maze group with 30-day mortality compared to 14 (8.2%) the control group (p=0.05). Sinus rhythm at annual and latest follow-up was 84.9% and 80.0% respectively in Maze group - significantly better than No-Surgical AF treatment groups (P<0.001). 160 patients (66.9%) were alive at long-term follow-up with better survival curves in Cox Maze group compared to No-Surgical treatment group (p=0.02). There was significantly higher proportion of patients in NYHA 1 status in Cox-Maze group (p=0.009). No differences observed in freedom from stroke (p=0.80) or permanent pacemaker (p=0.33). CONCLUSIONS. Surgical ablation is beneficial in elderly patients undergoing high-risk surgery - promoting excellent long-term freedom from AF and symptomatic/prognostic benefits. Therefore, surgical risk need not be reason to deny benefits of concomitant AF-ablation.
23 May 2021Submitted to Journal of Cardiac Surgery
24 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
24 May 2021Assigned to Editor
27 May 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 Jun 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
21 Jun 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Major