# Long-Term Results of the Mini Maze Standalone Bi-Atrial Surgical Ablation: A 10-Year Follow-Up

## TL;DR

This study shows that Mini Maze surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation remains effective and safe over ten years, with improved quality of life for patients.

## Contribution

The study provides 10-year follow-up data on Mini Maze surgical ablation, extending beyond the typical 5-year monitoring period.

## Key findings

- 69.4% of paroxysmal AF patients maintained sinus rhythm after 10 years.
- Quality of life improved significantly after surgery, as indicated by EHRA scores.
- Mini Maze surgery was found to be a safe and effective second-line treatment for AF.

## Abstract

Background: One way to treat atrial fibrillation is through surgical ablation. However, the literature only provides information on patient follow-up results for up to 5 years. Methods: In order to assess long-term monitoring data over ten years, this retrospective study included 58 patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation who underwent Mini Maze surgical ablation at Santaros Clinics between 1 February 2009 and 1 June 2014. The follow-up time after surgery was 144 ± 48 months. We evaluated the absence of atrial fibrillation, echocardiographic and clinical parameters, and EHRA score. Results: Sinus rhythm remained in 69.4%, 75.5%, 55.6%, and 44.1% of patients with paroxysmal AF, and 68,2%, 59.1%, 50%, and 41.9% of patients with persistent AF (p = 0.681). In the post-operative period, one patient (1.7%) had a transient ischemic attack, and another patient (1.7%) had a thoracotomy for post-operative bleeding. A total of 20% of patients were diagnosed with a post-operative respiratory tract infection. EHRA scores showed that patients’ quality of life improved after they underwent Mini Maze surgical ablation. Conclusions: Despite AF recurrences after surgery, quality of life remains better than before surgery, showing that Mini Maze surgery is an effective and safe second-line treatment method for atrial fibrillation.