Evidence mapPaperPMID 42570204Full record

ArticleGeneral thoracic and cardiovascular surgery2026

Initial experiences of surgical left atrial maze through resected left atrial appendage.

Takayuki Gyoten, Ritsushi Kato, Hitoshi Mori, Takahide Arai, Shintaro Nakano, Akihiro Yoshitake

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Article in General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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6 authors.

Takayuki GyotenDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan. t.gyoten29@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7960-6704
Ritsushi KatoDepartment of Cardiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Hitoshi MoriDepartment of Cardiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Takahide AraiDepartment of Cardiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Shintaro NakanoDepartment of Cardiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Akihiro YoshitakeDepartment of Cardiovascular Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1 Yamane, Hidaka, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDespite high-level evidence support, the full Maze procedure remains underused because of complexity, prolonged arrest time, and training gaps. Therefore, we aimed to develop a simplified left atrial Maze procedure through the left atrial appendage.

methodsAll patients with permanent atrial fibrillation treated using this technique between January 2024 and February 2025 were enrolled. The technique comprised (1) bilateral pulmonary vein isolation, (2) appendage-to-roof ablation, (3) appendage ridge ablation, (4) mitral annulus ablation, (5) endocardial bottom line ablation, (6) epicardial bottom line ablation, and (7) inferior vena cava and tricuspid line ablation. Left atrial Maze was performed through an amputated left atrial appendage. All ablation lines were created using the AtricureRF (AtriCure, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, United States) and CryoICE (AtriCure, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, United States) devices.

resultsAmong 17 patients, six and 11 underwent aortic valve surgery and coronary bypass grafting, respectively. Atrial fibrillation was classified as long-standing in 13 patients and persistent in four. Surgical ablation through the left atrial appendage was completed within 20 min of cardiac arrest. Overall survival and freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation at 12-month follow-up were 94% and 86%, respectively. During follow-up, no patient required pacemaker implantation owing to new-onset complete atrioventricular block, and survivors had New York Heart Association Class I status.

conclusionsThis technique is safe, simple, and provides acceptable freedom from recurrent atrial fibrillation, promising optimal survival. It can be perform with shorter cardiac arrest time and fewer complications and recommended as a concomitant procedure regardless of left atriotomy.

Indexed as

Atrial fibrillationCardiac surgeryLeft atrial appendageMaze procedureSurgical ablation

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.