No abstract

The Cox maze III procedure has equivalent operative risk and long-term efficacy in patients undergoing both lone operations and concomitant procedures. The Cox maze III procedure remains the standard against which alternative procedures for atrial fibrillation must be judged.

These data indicate that meticulous attention to surgical hemostasis and possibly application of recently developed modalities designed to facilitate perioperative correction of coagulopathy could improve outcomes after cardiac operations.

No abstract