OBJECTIVES: We evaluated @entity6554 after the Maze procedure in long-term follow-up and compared left and right atrial function in Maze @entity1 with that of healthy age-matched controls using echo Doppler techniques. BACKGROUND: The Maze procedure is designed to eliminate @entity955 , restore normal sinus rhythm, and preserve @entity11706 . Initial data indicate that @entity6554 is restored in most @entity1 undergoing the Maze procedure. The long-term echo Doppler evaluation of @entity1 after the Maze procedure has not been well described. METHODS: We performed pulsed-wave Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiographic studies on 31 @entity1 (24 @entity1 , 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 @entity1 , mean age 53.8 years). RESULTS: Twenty-two @entity1 (71%) had left atrial function shown by the presence of left ventricular inflow A-wave, and 25 @entity1 (81%) had right atrial function shown by the presence of right ventricular inflow A-wave on Doppler echocardiography. The left ventricular inflow A-wave velocity was significantly lower than that of age-matched controls (37.5 +/- 15.5 versus 61.0 +/- 13.9 cm/sec; p < 0.001), whereas the right ventricular inflow A-wave velocity did not significantly differ between @entity1 and control subjects (35.4 +/- 9.9 versus 35.3 +/- 4.9 cm/sec; p = Not significant). Although left and right atrial areas decreased significantly after the procedure, there was no significant change in the fractional area change which was smaller in Maze @entity1 than control individuals. CONCLUSIONS: (1) In long-term follow-up of 16.5 months after the Maze procedure, left atrial systolic function was preserved in 71% of our @entity1 and right atrial systolic function was preserved in 81%; (2) the left ventricular inflow peak A-wave velocity after Maze is considerably less than that in age-matched controls; and (3) left and right atrial sizes decreased after the procedure with no change in the fractional area change. These findings suggest that the Maze procedure is effective in restoring atrial function in the majority of @entity1 ; however, restored function is less than in control individuals.

Left and right XXXX after the Maze procedure for @entity955 : an echocardiographic Doppler follow-up study.

@entity6554 :: ('MESH:D015499', 'Disease') :: ['atrial transport function'] @entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'men'] @entity11706 :: ('MESH:D018880', 'Disease') :: ['atrial contraction'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['atrial fibrillation']
@entity6554 :: (MESH:D015499,Disease) :: ['atrial transport function']
