Maze Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation

Today's Maze procedure is the culmination of two decades of surgical ingenuity and technological advances in energy source delivery medical devices. The results are an efficient, effective surgery with fewer risks and high success rates.

A standard Maze procedure is performed during an open heart procedure, usually in conjunction with a mitral valve replacement. The procedure includes pulmonary vein isolation, the Maze lesion set, and excision of the left atrial appendage.

The Maze surgery is based on the Cox-Maze III procedure that was developed to create a pattern of scar tissue on the heart to isolate irregular electrical impulses that contribute to atrial fibrillation. Originally performed as a "cut-and-sew" procedure in which the surgeon would cut the heart tissue and sew it back together to create a specific pattern of scar tissue, now Maze surgeons utilize medical devices, like AtriCure's Isolator™ Transpolar™ surgical ablation system to produce the Maze pattern using radiofrequency energy source. These medical devices ablate heart tissue creating lines of scar that takes a fraction of time to produce, reducing the actual procedure time from hours to minutes.

Other surgical devices, like AtriCure's Isolator™ Transpolar™ pen, allow Dr. Affleck to stimulate bundles of nerve cells, called ganglia plexi, which allow him to map the pathways of irregular electrical impulses and to destroy specific nerve bundles which contribute to atrial fibrillation. This device also allows Dr. Affleck to test the ablated cells to ensure that they are no longer able to trigger irregular impulses.

There is one certainty with atrial fibrillation: the sooner you seek surgical treatment, the better your chances are for curing your AF. The Maze surgical ablation procedure is the one clear choice for curing atrial fibrillation. Dr. David Affleck of Western Cardiovascular Associates surgically cures more patients with afib than any other cardiac surgeon in the Western Mountain Region. Whether you live in Salt Lake City, Ogden, or Utah Valley, or anywhere in the country, contact Western Cardiovascular Associates online or call us at 801-743-4750 today.

Images courtesy of Atricure, Inc.