Right-sided maze procedure for right atrial arrhythmias in congenital heart disease

Background. Atrial fibrillation and nutter, commonly associated with congenital heart anomalies that cause right atrial dilatation, may cause significant morbidity and reduction of quality of life, even after surgical repair of the anomalies. Methods. In an effort to reduce the incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias after repair of right-sided congenital heart disease, we performed a concomitant right-sided maze procedure. Results. Eighteen patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or nutter (n = 12) or chronic atrial fibrillation or nutter (n = 6) aged 10.9 to 68.4 years (mean 34.9 years) underwent a right-sided maze in association with repair of Ebstein's anomaly (n = 15), congenital tricuspid insufficiency (n = 2), and isolated atrial septal defect (n = 1). There were no early deaths, reoperations, or complete heart block. Discharge rhythm was sinus (n = 16) or junctional (n = 2). Follow-up was complete in all 18 patients and ranged from 3.1 to 17.2 months (mean 8.1 months); all are in New York Heart Association class I. Early postoperative arrhythmias developed in 3 patients (all were converted to sinus rhythm by antiarrhythmic drugs). There were no late deaths or reoperations. Conclusions. The inclusion of a right-sided maze procedure with cardiac repair in patients having congenital heart anomalies that cause right atrial dilatation and associated atrial tachyarrhythmias is effective in eliminating or reducing the incidence of those arrhythmias. (C) 1998 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.