Maze Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation
If you have atrial fibrillation that doesn’t get better with other treatments, your doctor may recommend the Maze procedure. Trust Adventist HealthCare’s experienced heart surgery team, which is led by one of the country’s foremost experts in the procedure.
What’s AFib?
Atrial fibrillation (Afib) is a common type of heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia). It causes a fast, irregular beat that happens due to abnormal electrical patterns in the heart. Afib sometimes causes symptoms like:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
Without treatment, Afib may lead to problems like blood clots, stroke or heart failure.
Is the Maze Procedure Right for Me?
This surgery may be right for you if your symptoms don’t get better with medications or other treatments or if you’ve had a stroke. Benefits of the Maze procedure include:
- Long-term treatment of Afib
- Longer, better quality of life
- Lower risk of stroke
- Safer than alternative procedures
Ask your doctor if this procedure is right for you.
How It’s Done
During the Maze procedure, your surgeon treats Afib by creating a maze of scar tissue in the heart. The tissue helps block the abnormal electrical patterns that cause an irregular heartbeat. Your surgery may be done through:
- Minimally invasive heart surgery, which uses three tiny incisions on the side of the chest
- Traditional open-heart surgery, which uses one larger incision in the middle of the chest
Heart valve repair or replacement, if necessary, also may be done at the same time as the Maze procedure.
Your Care Team
Feel peace of mind knowing you’re in good hands – a team led by Dr. Niv Ad, one of the country’s leading Maze experts who has done more than 1,000 procedures.
