Maze Procedure

The heart contains four separate chambers that blood continuously pumps through. In order to keep the blood flowing, the body’s natural pacemaker, called the sinoatrial node, sends electrical impulses to contract the heart. The sinoatrial node is based on nerve impulses and hormones in the blood, but if there is a problem in any of these processes, it can result in an arrhythmia.

Arrhythmias are disturbances in the normal rhythm of your heartbeat when the electrical signaling that regulates your heartbeat is interrupted. One of the most common forms of arrhythmias is atrial fibrillation, which is when the top chambers of the heart beat erratically, often resulting in a very rapid heart rate.

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) can be either chronic or acute, with chronic AFib persisting longer than one year. Since AFib can place you at high risk for complications if left untreated, it is important to manage the condition through medications or surgeries, like a maze procedure.

What is a Maze Procedure?

A maze procedure is a surgical strategy used to treat AFib that cannot be controlled by medications. During the procedure, the surgeon makes multiple small incisions in the heart’s upper chambers. This process may be completed using a combination of techniques:

• Scalpel: a sharp surgical knife
• Cryoablation device: destroys tissues by freezing it
• Radiofrequency: destroys tissue with radiofrequency energy

These incisions are made in a maze pattern to redirect the heart’s electrical impulses. After the incisions heal, lesions form in their place, acting as a barrier to prevent any erratic electrical activity from entering the heart due to the scar tissues’ inability to conduct electrical activity.

A maze procedure can be done as an open-heart surgery (often in conjunction with other procedures) or through minimally-invasive methods. Recovery will take longer for patients who receive open-heart surgery, as this method is usually used when patients require another heart surgery at the same time.

The surgeons at Kardic Health specialize in minimally invasive, highly advanced surgical methods due to these procedures’ extensive benefits. With a minimally invasive technique, patients experience less pain, have better cosmetic results due to smaller incisions and minimal scarring, are at less risk for developing complications, and have shorter hospital stays due to reduced recovery time. Additionally, surgeons can get a clearer view of the heart because of advanced imaging, resulting in better patient outcomes.

Maze Procedure Risks

Severe risks for maze procedures are rare, and your surgeon will speak with you about any complications you may be at greater risk for. Some complications for the maze procedure may include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Stroke
• Pneumonia
• Heart attack
• Pacemaker implantation post-surgery
• Esophageal injury