Biatrial Contractility Recovery After Maze

RF energy was used to create continous endocardial and epicardial lesions mimicking most of the left atrial incisions set as described in the Cox Maze III procedure. In all patients a bipolar device was used (Cardioblate BP2 Irrigated RF Surgical Ablation System®, Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, MN, USA).

Contemporary to clinical follow up, all patients were evaluated with 2-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (Philips ultrasound system (iE33®, Andover, MA, USA)) at 3,6,12,24 months in order to specifically monitor the evolution of cardiac chambers dimensions and systolic performance and to record left and right atrial contractility presence.