Surgery for atrial fibrillation by the Cox technique. Apropos of 2 cases
Jegaden, O.; Eker, A.; Montagna, P.; Ossete, J.; Kirkorian, G.; Touboul, P.; Mikaeloff, P.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 87(11): 1475-1478
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 7771895 Document Number: 435542
The authors report the cases of two patients who underwent surgery of atrial fibrillation by Cox's technique. In one case, it was associated with mitral valvuloplasty for atrial fibrillation of 4 years' duration; sinus rhythm was restored on the 19th postoperative day; it persisted at 11 months without antiarrhythmic drugs. On the other case, it was associated with mitral valve replacement for atrial fibrillation of 7 years' duration in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and a poor left ventricle; sinus rhythm was restored by electrical cardioversion during the 4th postoperative month; it persisted at 9 months with antiarrhythmic therapy. Cox's technique allows: 1) definitive suppression of atrial fibrillation, 2) restoration of atrioventricular synchronisation, 3) preservation of atrial transport function. The indications are paroxysmal or permanent atrial fibrillation, invalidating and resistant to medical therapy; atrial fibrillation of over 3 years' duration associated with mitral regurgitation requiring valvular repair and atrial fibrillation of invalidating primary cardiomyopathy.