Maze Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation
If your atrial fibrillation (Afib) hasn't improved with other treatments, your doctor may recommend the maze procedure at VHC Health. This treatment can help your heart beat normally again in Arlington and the DC metro. So, you can feel more energetic and enjoy a higher quality of life.
What’s Atrial Fibrillation?
Afib is a common type of arrhythmia, or heart rhythm disorder. It happens when the electrical signals in your heart misfire and make the upper chambers beat fast or unevenly. This can cause poor blood flow, low energy, dizziness, and a fluttering feeling in your chest. Some people also feel short of breath or tired when their heart is out of rhythm.
Afib Treatment Options
After a diagnosis of Afib, you and your cardiologist will talk about what treatment is best. Your doctor may suggest the maze procedure if:
- Medicines aren't helping you.
- Radiofrequency ablation didn't stop the irregular heartbeat.
- You haven't had heart surgery before.
Your doctor will explain the benefits and possible risks so you can make an informed choice.
Maze Procedure
In the traditional maze procedure, your surgeon opens the chest to reach the heart directly. Then, the surgeon uses heat to create a series of small, precise lines of scar tissue on the heart’s surface. These lines are in a pattern that looks like a maze, which is how the procedure got its name.
The scar tissue doesn't conduct electricity. So, it blocks the abnormal electrical signals that cause Afib. By guiding the electrical signals into a normal path, the maze procedure helps your heart beat in a steady rhythm again.
Mini Maze Procedure
If you have Afib without other major heart problems, you may qualify for a mini‑maze procedure. It's less invasive than traditional, open-heart surgery because it doesn't divide your breastbone.
Instead, your cardiac surgeon makes small incisions, then places a small light and camera in the body. Next, the surgeon makes small lines of scar tissue on the outside of the heart. These scars help block the abnormal electrical signals that cause Afib.
After this step, a heart rhythm specialist threads a thin tube called a catheter through a vein in your groin. The catheter goes to the inside of your heart to check for any abnormal signals that might still be present. If the specialist finds trouble spots, they use either heat or cold to treat those areas. This extra step makes sure the heart returns to a more steady and normal rhythm.
Mini Maze Benefits
If you receive the less invasive procedure, you may benefit from:
- Less pain and lower risk of complications (side effects)
- Faster healing
- Shorter hospital stay
You'll likely return to normal activities much sooner after mini maze treatment.
After Surgery
Most people who take daily medicine for Afib can stop taking it after the maze procedure. Your care team may recommend cardiac rehabilitation. This supervised exercise program improves your heart health and helps prevent future problems.
