Making Sense of the Maze: Which Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Will Benefit?

The article presents an editorial regarding the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation. Some evidence suggests that the impact of a treatment strategy may vary among patients. The editorial discusses a clinical trial by Doukas and colleagues found in the November 9, 2005 issue of the journal. This trial looked at a surgical approach for patients with severe valvular heart disease. The trial used a maze procedure to restore sinus rhythm in patients. The procedure is supposed to address three consequences of atrial fibrillation, including irregular rhythm, risk of thromboembolism, and loss of atrioventricular synchronization. It is important to identify which patients will benefit from the maze procedure. Doukas and colleagues showed that a concomitant maze procedure should be considered during mitral valve surgery among patients with atrial fibrillation.