Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very fast, uncontrolled heart rhythm affecting an estimated 2.5 million people in the United States. During AF, the upper chambers of the heart beat between 350 and 600 times each minute (normal heart rhythm is between 60 and 80 beats each minute). An uncomfortable "flutter" in the chest is a common symptom. Patients may also feel lightheaded, have shortness of breath or suffer from heart failure.

"Untreated AF can lead to more serious heart rhythm problems and may weaken the heart muscle," says Edward M. Bender, MD, FACS, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon on staff at Saint Francis Medical Center. "As a result of this irregular pumping of the heart, blood is not completely emptied and may clot. This can lead to stroke."

Until now, treatment options for AF included blood thinners, rhythm-control medications, pacemakers and a "Maze" procedure performed during open-heart surgery for other cardiac diseases. Patients with AF who do not respond to medication may now have another surgical option.

A minimally invasive version of the Maze procedure is now available to treat AF, without making a conventional chest incision and placing the patient on a heart-lung machine. "Mini-Maze" technology utilizes a surgical probe and radio frequency ablation, a technique incorporating electrical energy used in medical procedures for decades.

"At the most basic level, the probe is inserted through a small incision and delivers electrical energy to a specific location," explains Bender. "The energy generates heat that creates a strategic maze of scar tissue. This scar tissue blocks the electrical signals causing AF."

The less-invasive Mini-Maze procedure is quicker and simpler than the traditional surgery, allowing patients to recover faster. Medical Center stays range from two to three days compared to seven days or more with conventional surgery. In addition, the heart is not stopped and hooked to a heart-lung machine, greatly reducing surgical risks.

From Weekly Health Page: Feb. 19, 2006