Atrial Fibrillation Ablation |  | 
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Since 2001, more than 40,000 patients have undergone surgical Atrial Fibrillation Ablation, often called a Maze procedure. It has been proven effective for a wide range of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) patients. But it is also an invasive procedure, requiring open heart (concomitant) surgery and often a heart-lung bypass.
You and your doctor may want to consider this option if you have AF and need open heart surgery for another reason such as bypass surgery or a valve repair or replacement.
During your surgery
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The surgeon uses instruments to identify the faulty electrical sites in your heart causing it to beat irregularly and too fast
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Then an instrument with a heat source is used to create precise scars, or ablations, on those spots. These scars will block the abnormal electrical impulses which cause AF and can return your heart to a normal rhythm
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The surgeon may also create the necessary ablations that can block the abnormal electrical impulses causing your AF
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Additionally, many surgeons remove or close off a small cul-de-sac-shaped pouch on the heart (the left atrial appendage) believed to be the primary site where stroke-causing blood clots form during AF
Minimally Invasive MAZE Ablation For people who suffer from Atrial Fibrillation (AF), but are otherwise fairly healthy, a minimally invasive Maze ablation (or Mini Maze) may be an option. It is similar to the concomitant ablation (described above), except that the surgeon reaches the heart through small incisions on each side of the chest and does not require that the heart be stopped. You may wish to discuss this procedure with your doctor if:
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You have AF symptoms that are severely interfering with your quality of life
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Your medications are not working or you cannot tolerate their side effects
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You are at risk for forming clots and having a stroke
During the surgery
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For the minimally invasive MAZE ablation, the surgeon accesses the heart by making three small incisions between the ribs, through which a tiny camera and video-guided instruments are inserted
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As in the open chest procedure, the surgeon uses an energy source to make precise scars, or ablations, on the heart to block the irregular electrical impulses that cause AF and removes or closes off the left atrial appendage where stroke-causing blood clots often form
The minimally invasive MAZE procedure has proven to be an effective treatment offering many more patients the option of ablation therapy without having to undergo major concomitant surgery. Also, not having to open up the whole chest makes recovery much easier and reduces the average hospital stay to around four days. |
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