What is Maze Procedure—Open Surgery?

Maze is a surgical procedure for the heart. A maze-like pattern of incisions is made in the upper chambers of the heart. The chambers are called the atria.

Maze Procedure © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Maze is done to treat atrial fibrillation . Fibrillation is abnormal beating of the heart muscle. It is caused by erratic electrical impulses that travel through the heart muscle. These impulses can cause the chambers to beat too fast. This can decrease blood flow through the heart. Atrial fibrillation can also cause blood clots to form in the heart that can travel to the brain and cause a stroke .

Maze is used to treat severe cases that did not respond to medicine or other procedures. Electrical impulses cannot flow through scar tissue. By creating specific patterns of scar tissue, maze surgery creates a pathway for healthy impulses and blocks erratic impulses.

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have this procedure, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Anesthesia-related problems
• The need for a permanent pacemaker
• Kidney or other organ failure
• Stroke
• Death

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Pre-existing heart, lung, or kidney conditions
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Previous chest surgery
• Use of certain medicines

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, call your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Cough or shortness of breath
• New chest...