[Selection of surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation]

Abstract

Radical procedure for elimination of atrial fibrillation (Af) was devised by Cox and named as maze procedure. The concept of maze procedure was interruption of all reentry circuits on both atria. Several modifications of maze procedure were performed. Among them, left atrial maze procedure suggested the mechanism of Af origination and open the door of catheter ablation of pulmonary veins. This article described the surgical procedures and indication of the original Cox maze procedure, left atrial maze procedure and the recent maze IV procedure.