Outcome of Cox Maze procedure concomitant with mitral valve operation in treatment of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation （AF） is fairly common in patients with chronic mitral valve disease and a markedly dilated left atrium. These patients rarely return to sinus rhythm spontaneously, even after a successful mitral valve operation. The Maze procedure, developed by Cox and associates,15 has been used in patients undergoing a mitral valve operation. Restoration of normal sinus rhythm and atrial contraction in such patients have been reported by some groups. This study will summarize retrospectively a group of patients who underwent the Cox Maze procedure for the treatment of AF associated with rheumatic mitral valve disease in China.