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 MountainStar Cardiovascular Surgery 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 MountainStar Cardiovascular Surgery online
or call us at 801-743-4750 today.
Images courtesy of Atricure, Inc.