OBJECTIVE: Although maze-related surgical procedures have shown success at eliminating @entity955 , published controlled studies have generally been too small to detect clinically significant differences in morbidity and mortality. We pooled available studies to determine whether a simultaneous maze procedure reduces the risk of @entity64 or @entity204 in @entity1 with chronic or paroxysmal @entity955 who receive mitral valve surgery. Secondary outcomes included @entity548 and need for pacemaker. METHODS: Our systematic review identified four randomized controlled trials and six retrospective comparative studies that met minimum quality criteria. We conducted meta-analyses of clinical outcomes using Cohen's h, a statistic appropriate for analysis of infrequent events. RESULTS: The findings suggest that maze may reduce @entity64 risk but also increase the need for pacemaker implantation, as well as increase the risk of @entity548 unless radiofrequency ablation is used. However, the statistically significant findings for @entity64 , need for pacemaker, and @entity548 were overturned by sensitivity analysis, indicating that the findings are not robust. CONCLUSION: The literature evaluating maze clinical outcomes suffers from several shortcomings, particularly small sample sizes and selection bias. However, weak evidence supports a reduction in @entity64 rates and an increase in need for pacemakers among @entity1 receiving the maze procedure. Radiofrequency maze may avoid an excess risk of @entity548 associated with maze incisions. Larger, well-designed RCTs are needed to confirm these findings and evaluate outcomes such as survival and quality of life.

Meta-analysis of clinical outcomes of maze-related surgical procedures for medically refractory XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['stroke'] @entity548 :: ('MESH:D006470', 'Disease') :: ['post-operative bleeding'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['atrial fibrillation'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['death']
@entity955 :: (MESH:D001281,Disease) :: ['atrial fibrillation']
