MIS Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation

A minimally invasive surgery (MIS) procedure called Mini-Maze corrects atrial fibrillation (AF) without the use of a heart/lung machine or a division or spreading of the ribs.

The Mini-Maze procedure uses new technology to interrupt the path of the aberrant electrical impulses. A heart surgeon guides a thorascope and a special tool that grasps the heart's atrium at the top of the chamber. The special tool uses radiofrequency (RF) technology to destroy tissue where the irregular impulse starts. The damaged tissue can no longer conduct electrical impulses and the rest of the chamber resumes a normal rhythm. The procedure was pioneered by Dr. Randall Wolf, M.D., of the University Hospital in Cincinnati (OH, USA).

"For the first time we have a truly minimally invasive procedure that can permanently eliminate AF, return patients to their normal rhythm, and significantly reduce their risk of stroke,” commented Marc Gerdisch, M.D., director of cardiothoracic surgery at Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, IL, USA). Dr. Gerdisch performed the Mini-Maze procedure on a patient in May 2005 who went back to work two days after surgery, was driving and gardening within one week, and is being weaned off AF medications.

Worldwide, the Mini-Maze procedure has been performed on more than 375 patients, with AF eliminated in more than 85% of these. "Until now, the options available to AF patients were unattractive at best: a lifetime of anticoagulant therapy, a permanent pacemaker, or a difficult, invasive operation,” noted Dr. Gerdisch. "The Mini-Max offers patients an optimal choice.”





Related Links:
University Hospital, Cincinnati
Central DuPage Hospital