The Outcome of the Cox Maze Procedure in Patients With Previous Percutaneous Catheter Ablation to Treat Atrial Fibrillation

Surgical ablation following failed catheter ablation is safe and effective. Over 90% of the tested pulmonary veins were not isolated at time of surgery questioning the validity of documented acute conduction block during catheter ablation. Increase in the number of ablations before the surgical ablation may be related to inferior outcomes.