Routine ganglionic plexi ablation during Maze procedure improves hospital and early follow-up results of mitral surgery

OBJECTIVE:Ganglionic plexi are claimed to be potentially responsible for atrial fibrillation. We evaluated whether ganglionic plexi isolation improves the results of the Maze procedure during mitral valve surgery.METHODS:A total of 75 patients with atrial fibrillation underwent radiofrequency ablation during mitral valve surgery without (group A) or with (group B) ganglionic plexi ablation with bipolar radiofrequency plus fat pad resection along the Waterston groove, left pulmonary veins, and Marshall's ligament. Ganglionic plexi were intraoperatively mapped, and fat pad specimens were sectioned and analyzed. Hospital and follow-up results were recorded. Amiodarone was discontinued at the sixth month.RESULTS:Active ganglionic plexi were mainly located in the upper parts of fat pads. Active specimens demonstrated more ganglionic plexi than inactive specimens (P