SURGERY OF ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION BY COX TEC HNIQUE - RESULTS IN 2 CASES

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' duratio n; sinus rhythm was restored on the 19th postoperative day; it persist ed at 11 months without antiarrhythmic drugs. On the other case, it wa s 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 anti arrhythmic therapy. Cox's technique allows : 1) definitive suppression of atrial fibrillation, 2) restoration of atrioventricular synchronis ation, 3) preservation of atrial transport function. The indications a re paroxysmal or permanent atrial fibrillation, invalidating and resis tant to medical therapy; atrial fibrillation of over 3 years' duration associated with mitral regurgitation requiring valvular repair and at rial fibrillation of invalidating primary cardiomyopathy.