3.2. Study Characteristics
Details of individual studies and patients’ baseline characteristics including history of AF, intraoperative data and mid-term postoperative outcomes are summarized in Table 1. Three out of 6 studies were RCTs21-23. The studies included a total of 790 patients (532 undergoing concomitant Cox-Maze and 258 undergoing PVI during MV surgery). The proportion of patients who had preoperative longstanding persistent AF was reported in 5 out of 6 studies, while Gillinov et al. reported duration of preoperative AF 26. The proportion of longstanding persistent AF was similar in both compared subgroups in most studies. The performance rate of concomitant left atrial appendage occlusion was reported in 5/6 studies21,22,24-26 and was 100% in all subgroups apart from the PVI subgroup in one study with the rate of 70%24. The rate of MV repair was reported in 5/6 studies and was comparable between the subgroups 24. All included studies reported concomitant Cox-Maze III or IV procedures performed in a standardized fashion. XCT and CPB time across the studies are demonstrated in Table 1.